
Glass 



Book 



A 

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 




DOROTHY QUINCY HANCOCK. 
(From an oil painting by Copley.) 



DOROTHY QUINCY 

WIFE OF JOHN HANCOCK 

WITH EVENTS OF HER TIME 



BY 

ELLEN C. D. Q. WOODBURY 

Her Great-Great Niece 



WASHINGTON 

THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 

431 ELEVENTH STREET 

MCMI 



THE.LI*RA«Y OF 

0ONGRESS, 
Two Cuiie* Heoeived 

JAN. 23 1902 

COfHIOMT ENTRY 

&Lt-.t 1 -fit! 
CLAS8 a XXc. No, 

copy a. 



to* 



COPYK16HT, 1901, BY BLLBH C. D. Q. WOODBURY 



S3 



TO THE WOMEN 

OF 

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES IN AMERICA. 

Who, with ardor, assiduity and perseverance, are 
giving their time and their money towards per- 
petuating a commemorative history of the past, 
this book is cordially dedicated by one of their 
members. 



PREFACE. 

The records from which to acquire information 
of Dorothy Quincy have been limited, but those 
associated with this prominent lady of " ye olden 
time " give but one estimate of her person and 
character. Had she permitted her pen to pulsate 
with the emotional outpourings of love, like a 
l'Espinasse, there would have been no difficulty 
in portraying Dorothy Quincy, for she would 
have portrayed herself ; or, had she wielded her 
pen with the facility of a Sevigne, there would 
have been graphic pictures of her life and her 
surroundings. Rut we have not been admitted 
behind the scenes during that period of danger 
and daring — from Madame Hancock's point of 
view. 

This work, therefore, is chiefly compiled from 
the letters of her family and the records of the 
period in which she lived. The collection was 
made a few years ago, but the publication has 
been unavoidably delayed. 

My especial thanks are given to Mrs. William 
Wales, of Dorchester, Mass.. and Mrs. Sarah H. 
Swan, of Cambridge. Mass., who most cour- 
teously permitted me access to the letters in their 
possession. 



CONTENTS. 

Dorothy Quincy's American Lineage 9 

Home Life of the Quincys — Esther Quincy — John 

Adams — J. Seweli 15 

Dorothy Quincy 24 

John Hancock's Parentage — Thomas Hancock — J. 
Hancock in London — His Return Home — En- 
ters Public Life 26 

The Endeavors to Win Hancock — Samuel Adams 
Upholds Him — Adams and Hancock at Vari- 
ance — Their Reconciliation — Dorothy Quincy 
Loses Her Mother — John Hancock's and Dor- 
othy Quincy's Attraction to Each Other 33 

The Patriots — Hancock, Colonel of the Cadets — 
His Benevolence — The " Tea Party " — Lafay- 
ette on the Tories 37 

Adams' Entry in His Diary — Dorothy Quincy's 
Characteristics — Hancock's " Massacre Ora- 
tion " — Rejoicings of the Quincys — The Port 
Bill — Troops Landed — Enmity of Governor 
Gage — John Hancock's Rise — Praise of the 
Prominent Patriots — John Adams, Hancock's 4 2 
Lawyer — Provisional Congress 

Dorothy Quincy's Lover — Royalist Hand-bill — 
British Soldiers Tar and Feather — Voltaire 
on the English — Attack on Hancock's Prem- 
ises — Women's Tea Petition 5 1 

Congress at Concord Adjourns — Dorothy Quincy 
Leaves for Lexington — Letter of Helene Bay- 
ard — John Hancock and Samuel Adams in 
Danger 58 

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride — The Lexington 
Fight — Letter of an English Soldier — Dor- 
othy Quincy Tells of the Wounded — Hancock 
and Adams Withdraw to Safety — The Lovers 
Quarrel 63 



Minute Men — Boston a Camp— Gage's Proclama- 
tion — How It Was Received — Delegates en 
Route to Philadelphia— Hancock and Adams 
Meet the Governor and Council of Connecti- 
cut — The Quincys Scattered 7 U 

Dorothy Quincy at Fairfield— Hancock's Letter 
to Dorothy — Enthusiasm for John Hancock — 
Elected President of the Continental Con- 
gress — Contemporaries' Opinion of Him 75 

Life at Fairfield — Letter from Hancock — Dis- 
tress in Boston — Hancock Wishes to Serve 
Under Washington — George Washington's Re- 
ply — John Hancock's Letters to Dorothy- 
Judge Quincy's Views — Samuel Paine on Bos- 
ton — Arrival of Howe — Washington Appoint- 
ed Commander-in-Chief 8u 

Hancock's Namesakes — Aaron Burr — Wedding of 
Dorothy Quincy — John Sewell's Opinion — No- 
tices of the Event — They Leave for Philadel- 
phia — Dorothy Meets With Relatives — Dor- 
othy in Her New Position — John Adams 
Writes of Her — New Duties for Dorothy 
Quincy — Mrs. Hancock at Marshalls 89 

Proposed Ball to Lady Washington — Her Tact- 
Proposition to Bombard Boston — Hancock's 
'• Memorable Letter " — His Unselfish Stand — 
Mrs. Hancock's Admiration for John Hancock. 99 

England's Appeal to Europe — Howe Leaves Bos- 
ton — Duke of Manchester in Parliament — 
Judge Quincy's Letter — Aunt Lydia's Death — 
Dorothy Dudley Praises the Quincys — Birth 
of a Daughter 106 

Repeal of the Stamp Act — Letters of Judge 
Quincy — Hancock's Hospitality — Invites Gen- 
eral and Mrs. Washington to Visit Him — John 
Adams' Opinion of Hancock as General of the 
Forces 113 

Declaration of Independence — Winthrop De- 
scribes Hancock — Reception of the News— 
The Hancocks' Happiness Impresses Adams — 
Boston and New York Jubilant — Hancock's 
Name Given to Ships and Children — Extracts 
from Judge Quincy's Letters — Hancock 
Writes to Washington. 118 



Debates in Parliament — Privateers— Congress in 
Baltimore — Dinners — John Hancock's Return 
to Philadelphia — Letters to Wife — Life 
Without " Dolly " — Her Arrival — Reply to 
an Acrostic on Hancock's Name. 124 

S swell's Letter to a Former Friend — Washing- 
ton's Annoyances — Death of Daughter — Mrs. 
Hancock Leaves Philadelphia — John Hancock 
Writes Her — Their Cheerful Fireside — Han- 
cock's Letter to Washington — Hancock's Ad- 
dress to Congress — Regrets at His Departure. 
His Warm Reception 134 

The Hancock Establishment — Portraits of Madam 
Hancock — John Hancock, His Tastes — Consid- 
eration of Others — His Generosity. 143 

Bostonians Described — A Son Born — Letters to 
" Dolly " from Yorktown — John Hancock Re- 
turns to Boston — Marches to Rhode Island — 
Judge Quincy's Letter — French Fleet Off 
Sandy Hook — The Fleet Disabled — Lafayette 
Stands by D'Estaing 1 50 

The Hancocks Give a Breakfast to the French 
Officers — The Frenchmen Invite the Han- 
cocks — Indians Visit the Ship — The Constitu- 
tion of Massachusetts Formed — Ball to the 
French Officers — Hancock Gives Washing- 
ton's Portrait to Admiral D'Estaign — Pre- 
sents One to Lafayette 1 57 

Letter to George Washington, Esq. — The Two 
Patriots Alienated — Voltaire — Proposals of 
Peace Through Franklin — Franklin's Reply — 
Criticisms of John Hancock — His Entertain 
ing Under Difficulties. 163 

F.unice Quincy — Her Marriage — Reception in 
France — Marie Antoinette, Godmother — De 
Valnais' Exile — Returns to Boston — Lafay- 
ette Arrives in America — Extracts from His 
Letters. 171 

John Hancock Elected Governor — His Popular- 
ity — Hancock Entertainments — Foreigners' 
Impressions of Boston — Judge Quincy Hears 
from Esther and Her Son — His Replies. 176 

Boston in 1781 — Madam Hancock Visits Ports- 
mouth — Hancock's Efforts for the People — 



Surrender of Cornwallis — Madam Hancock's 
Kindness to the Sick — Reception to Rocham- 
beau — Hancock's Mode of Living — Madam 
Hancock on Commencement Day — Hancock as 
Peace-Maker 182 

Treaty at Paris — Hancock, the Friend of the Sol- 
dier — Endangers His Fortune — His Money 
Trunk — Persistence in Work — His Son Inocu- 
lated 1S9 

Lafayette Feted in Boston — Hancock's Failing 
Health — Illustrious Guests — The Governor 
Resigns — His Irritability from Gout 19* 

Death of the Hancocks' Son — Judge Quincy's 
Death — Mrs. Sewell Writes to Dorothy — 
Hancock Again Governor — His Philanthropy. 
Lafayette's Generosity — Constitution Adopt- 
ed — Boston Celebrates It — Filling the Of- 
fices — The Vote for Governor — Dinner at the 
Hancocks'. 195 

The Hancocks Visit Portsmouth, N. H. — Their 
Departure from There, and Escort — The 
French Their Guests — The Officers Return 
the Civilities — The Hancocks' Ball — The 
Hancocks, Dine on Board 'the Achilles — A 
President and Vice-President Chosen — Wash- 
ington's Reply to Hancock's Congratulations. 
Adams at the Hancocks' 202 

The Hancocks Receive the French — Ball on 
Board l'Illustre — Epergne Broken — Washing- 
ton Goes to Boston — Disagreeable Episode — 
Takes Tea at the Hancocks' — The Ladies 
Honor Him — He Leaves for Portsmouth, N. H. 207 

An Ode to Hancock — The American Artillery — 
Re-elected Governor — Prejudice Against 
Plays — Hancock's Dinners — Davis' Death — 
Hancock's Last Term of Office — Takes Leave 
of the Legislature — Faithful to Duty 215 

Hancock's Death — Madam Hancock Alone — Opin- 
ions of Hancock — His Funeral — Portland's 
Respect for Him — Madam Hancock Defrays 
the Funeral Expenses — Madam Deeds Her 
Share of the Garden 220 

Madam Hancock's Hospitality— Her Tastes— The 
Trusted Adviser— The Marriage of Madam 
Hancock — Esther's Letters — Captain Scott's 
Death, 228 



The Mortgage — Th^ Mall — Lafayette Returns to 
America — Salutation to Madam Scott — Her 
Death — The Will — Mementos of the Han- 
cocks — Propositions to Retain the House. 235 

The Lexington House — Efforts to Save It — Han- 
cock's Grave — The Monument — Where Doro- 
thy Quincy Rests 244 



CHAPTER I. 
Dorothy Quincy's American Lineage. 

Dorothy Quincy was a direct descendant of 
1 Edmund Quincy, the pioneer of that name to 
America in 1628. He then returned to England 
for his family, and when he again landed in Bos- 
ton, September 4, 1633, brought the necessary 
equipments and six servants, prepared to estab- 
lish himself permanently. 

A few months later he and his wife were ad- 
mitted to the " First Church of Boston." 

Edmund was the first Puritan Quincy, which 
so evidently incensed and alienated his relatives 
that, on his mother's death, in her will there was 
no mention of him save a legacy of " twelve 
pence ;" and he was ignored by the brothers, 
who also omitted his name from their wills. 

It had required force of character and iron 
courage to part from family, friends and home — 
breaking forever from those genial ties of kin- 
dred to face hardship and danger in that great, 
unknown world, where no cordial words of greet- 
ing nor friendly hand extended from the bleak 
shore — to contend with a strange and hostile 



io DOROTHY QUINCY 

race, and start upon a life of isolation. But Ed- 
mund Quincy had to sustain him that which had 
buoyed up the early settlers — a love of their 
God and a sublime faith that He would uphold 
them through all their trials and discourage- 
ments. 

Edmund Quincy, high-spirited, undaunted and 
talented, soon became prominent in the councils 
of his new country. In 1634, eight months after 
his arrival, he was sent a deputy to the General 
Court, the first ever held in Massachusetts Bay. 
He was appointed with others " to make and 
assess a tax of thirty pounds to Mr. Blackstone 
to purchase his right and title to the peninsular 
of Shawmut, now Boston." 

In 1635 the town of Boston granted him land, 
of which he took possession, at Mt. Wollasten, 
which in 1640 was incorporated as Braintree ; 
and later Quincy was partitioned off from this 
town. He died February 23, 1738. 

His son, 2 Edmund Quincy, was born March 
15th, 1627-28. He married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Major-General Gookin. 

z Edmund Quincy, energetic and eminent in the 
military service of the colonies, filled the office of 
representative for four years. He was the first 
Mayor of Braintree. His name is enrolled as 
member of the "Council of Safety," which formed 
the provisional government of the colony until 
the arrival of the new charter from William and 



DOROTHY QUINCY n 

Mary; and he was active with the popular party 
in the capture of Governor Andros. 

2 Edmund Quincy died January 8th, 1697-98. 

His son, 3 Edmund Quincy, was born October 
21st, 1681. He married Dorothy Flynt, daugh- 
ter of Rev. J. Flynt. 

3 Edmund Quincy was a member of the Board 
of Overseers of Harvard University for twenty 
years, and one of the Royal Councillors, 171 5 to 
1729, and 1734 to 1737; appointed colonel of the 
Suffolk Regiment, at that time an important com- 
mand; and in 1718 was commissioned Judge of 
the Supreme Court, which office he held for nine- 
teen years. He has been described as a man of 
" great popularity, profound learning, and a most 
accomplished gentleman." 

December, 1737, Judge Quincy was sent to the 
Court of the Sovereign in the cause of the prov- 
ince, and died on the 23d of February, 1738, of 
small-pox, at London. 

The province erected a monument to him in 
Burnhill Fields, London, which, according to 
custom, after a certain lapse of time was removed. 
On the original tomb was placed in Latin: "Here 
are deposited the remains of Edmund Quincy. 
Esq., native of Massachusetts Bay, in New Eng- 
land. A gentleman of distinguished piety, pru- 
dence and learning, who early merited praise for 
discharging with the greatest ability and ap- 
proved integrity the various employments, both 



12 DOROTHY QUINCY 

in civil and military affairs, that his country en- 
trusted him with; these especially, as one of his 
Majesty's council, a justice of the Supreme Court 
of Judicature, and a colonel of a regiment of 
foot." 

The General Assembly, in further recognition 
of his services, granted to his heirs one thousand 
acres of land in Lennox, Massachusetts Bay. 

A sermon on the death of Edmund Ouincy was 
delivered in Boston, 1738, pointing to the " in- 
stability of human greatness," by Rev. John Han- 
cock, Jr., from which I select a few extracts. The 
text was Isaiah 3: 1, 2, 3 — "For, behold the 
Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from 
Jerusalem and from Judah . . . the mighty 
man, and the man of war, the judge, and prudent, 
and the ancient . . . the honorable man, 
and the counselor . . . and the eloquent 
orator." 

" I have scarcely known any of our worthy 
patriots to whom the several excellent characters 
of my text could with more justice be applied 
than the honorable person whom we are now 
commemorating. They all seem to have united 
and centered in him in an uncommon degree. 
But I could wish that a much more skillful hand 
were employed to draw at length the masterly 
strokes of this great character . . . You do 
not mourn the loss alone, for this assembly, this 




JUDGE EDMUND QUINCY m. Grandfather of Dorothy Quincy. 
(Original ill the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.) 



DOROTHY QUINCY t& 

town — nay, this whole province, are in affliction 
for it." 

Two portraits of Judge Quincy are still extant, 
painted by John Symbert, the first guide to paint- 
ing in this country, who arrived here in 1728. 

4 Edmund Quincy, son of Judge Quincy, was 
born in 1703, and graduated at Harvard in 1722. 
He served as magistrate and later filled the office 
of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and was 
looked up to for his high probity and judgment. 

4 Edmund Quincy married Elizabeth Wendell, 
and these were the parents of Dorothy Quincy. 
Elizabeth Wendell was the daughter of Abraham 
Wendell and Katherine De Kay, of New York. 

in the history of Braintree we read: "The 
Ouincys from the earliest time have lent their in- 
fluence to support and their virtues to adorn the 
institutions of religion here, as well as the insti- 
tutions of government and learning on a wider 
theatre." 

Mrs. Abigail Adams, who was a Miss Quincy, 
in one of her letters from England in 1787, has a 
revival of interest in her family tree after a visit 
to Winchester, as a former Earl of Winchester 
bore the name of Saer de Quincy, and his coat- 
of-arms was similar to that of the family in Amer- 
ica. 

In the early days of New England the coat-of- 
arms was cut on the tombstone, thus designating 
the family connection with the " mother country." 



14 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Mrs. Adams distinctly recalled an old parch- 
ment that she had studied when a young girl at 
her grandmother's, wherein the genealogical 
table gave the descent of the Qui'ncys from the 
advent of William the Conqueror into England. 

This record had been lent to a member of the 
family, and Mrs. Adams wrote that her grand- 
mother often deplored, with some anger, that she 
could never regain it. Mrs. Adams wished that 
inquiries be made then to see " whether there is 
any probability of its ever being recovered?" 

Families had been forced to leave Boston sud- 
denly at the time of the siege, which endangered 
many valuable papers, and must have entailed 
losses difficult to replace. This may account for 
(he total disappearance of the Quincy family pedi- 
gree. 

Mrs. Adams added : " I do not expect either 
titles or estate from the recovery of the genealog- 
ical table were there any probability of obtaining 
it. Yet, if I was in possession of it, money 
should not purchase it from me." 



CHAPTER II. 

Home Life of the Quincys — Esther Quincy — John 
Adams — J. Sewell. 

The life of Dorothy Quincy touches on the 
colonial period, but was chiefly passed during the 
lime of the Revolution and the following days of 
peace. 

To write of her is to enter extensively into the 
scenes of the turbulent age in which she lived, 
and in which her husband, John Hancock, took a 
leading part. 

Looking back through the great lapse of time 
to those stirring, revolutionary days, noticeable 
is the contrast between the present and that 
period. The lives, customs, ideas and education 
enveloped each household with a mantle of piety 
that skeptical hands had not swept aside, nor 
dropped because of its irksome restraint. A 
calm that one might call blessed reigned, and the 
spirit of unrest had not entered nor broken up 
these peaceful homes. 

The Bible was daily read and prayers were of- 
fered up morning and evening, all the members 
of the family assembling for that purpose. This 
was their anchorage, and it seemed a safe one. 



16 DOROTHY QUINCY 

On Sunday came the regular attendance at 
church ; and the quiet of the streets was broken 
only by the pealing bells calling the worshipers 
together. These services were not considered 
onerous, for their hearts were filled with devotion 
and a belief that a Divine Providence was watch- 
ing over them, which inspired their adoration. 
I te was in their daily thoughts; His words were 
on their lips and pervaded their writings. They 
revered Him, yet feared Him if they did wrong. 

" Happy is he," says Lamartine, " who by 
God's will is born of a good and holy family. It 
is t lie first of all the blessings of destiny." 

This was the atmosphere in which Dorothy 
Ouincy was raised. It was the home of the 
Christian, and Judge Ouincy's was not an aus- 
tere but a cheerful one. He rarely frowned on 
the buoyant spirits of his children, his great care 
being to instill what was right, and to guide the 
daughters, as well as the sons, in the observance 
of it. 

He enjoyed his cultivated fields, and wrote 
some works on agriculture. At one time he was 
desirous of raising the grape for wine, and ap- 
prised his friend Franklin of this project. Frank- 
lin, who was in Philadelphia at the time, entered 
heartily into assisting him to procure the vines, 
and sent " seventy miles from the city for them 
into the country." He despatched one bundle 
by sea and one by land — the better to ensure 



DOROTHY QUINCY 17 

their reaching Judge Quincy — and concluded his 
letter with : " I heartily wish you success in your 
attempt to make wine from American grapes !" 

Dorothy, the youngest of ten children, was 
born May 10, 1747. She early gave promise of 
her meritorious characteristics. 

In a letter of Edmund Quincy to his wife from 
Boston, July 26, 1756, he writes that the "daugh- 
ter Dolly " looked very comfortable and had 
gone to school, " where she seems to be very high 
in her mistress' graces." 

When back in the old colonial mansion that 
had been occupied by her forefathers, Dorothy 
reveled in the freedom from school restraint, and 
was again a child of nature with a love of all her 
beautiful surroundings. 

Here this little girl skipped over the broad 
acres — her dark tresses floating in the breeze, 
her large eyes dancing with delight — as she gath- 
ered the dainty wild flowers, or culled the meadow 
strawberries, studied the speckled frog in the old 
stream, or chased the variegated butterfly — her- 
self as picturesque and unfettered. 

Her old home stands in Quincy, with the re- 
mains of a walled stream, and the large bushes of 
box marking the garden. It was formerly a con- 
spicuous feature of this ancient town, but now the 
vast grounds have from time to time been sold 
and encroached upon with buildings. 



18 DOROTHY QUINCY 

The interior is still curious, the many addi- 
tions marking the varied taste of its owners. The 
hall is intact, with the winding staircase and 
carved baluster. When I visited it some years 
ago one room arrested especial attention, pan- 
eled with flowers and cupids, said to have been 
papered for the wedding of Dorothy Quincy. 
The ceremony took place elsewhere in conse- 
quence of the troubled state of the country and 
fears for the safety of her intended husband. 

Judge Edmund Quincy, the father of Dorothy, 
was regarded with the greatest respect. A de- 
vout Christian, he was also an earnest patriot, 
and what time he could spare from his God he 
gave with warm interest to his country. He was 
an ardent promoter of the Revolution, and his 
letters to Hancock, Franklin and others are pre- 
served, breathing predictions of what later 
proved the consummation of the struggle. 

There assembled under his roof men of brains, 
of resolution, and of public spirit, watchful of 
Britain and of their own rights ; and Dorothy 
Quincy, after she entered her teens, must have 
heard much of patriotism mingled with the soft 
whisperings of love. 

Judge Quincy was a fine linguist, which gave 
him a breadth of reading beyond his own coun- 
try. He drew younger men to his house, as well 
as those of his own age, who listened attentively 
to his intelligent conversation, though his cap- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 19 

tivating- daughters may have also been attrahent 
to the youths of that day. 

Before Dorothy Ouincy's debut into the great 
world there came as a visitor John Adams, a 
young lawyer, and evidently one of the intimates 
of the house. We read in his diary frequent 
mention that he had gone over to " Justice 
Ouincy's " and had a talk with him ; but there 
was also a supplementary sauce piquant in the 
sprightly tilts with the daughter Esther. 

In a letter from Portsmouth, N. H., 3 August 
6th, 1757, Esther writes to one of her sisters : 
" Give my duty to my father, and tell him I was 
extremely glad for the receipt of his kind epistle ; 
but how much more agreeable was I entertained 
in reading the contents of it ! His advice I'll en- 
deavor to follow." She continues, that she will 
try to " steer clear of the flatteries of life," and 
says, " I think it is an honest resolution, for our 
eternal felicity depends upon our good behavior. 
Kiss Dolly." A kiss for the dear little 
pet who held all hearts. Adams wrote freely of 
this elder sister, her disposition, also of the 
cousin Hannah Quincy, whom he designates by 
the letter " O." 

Thev were handsome, brilliant sfirls, and Mr. 
John Adams, with his lively badinage, met in 
them his match. 

1 1 e writes of Esther in 1759 : " I talk to Esther 
about the folly of love, about despising, about 



2o DOROTHY QUINCY 

being above it — pretend to be insensible of ten- 
der passions, which makes them laugh." 

This vein of talk was instigated no doubt by 
Esther's having a devoted lover, Jonathan Sew- 
ell, whom she married in 1763. He was the last 
attorney-general of the province, and later be- 
came a royalist refugee. 

Referring to Esther Adams says : " E. looks 
pert, sprightly, gay, but thinks and reads much 
less than O." . . . " O. makes observations 
on actions, characters, events in Pope's, Homer, 
Milton, Pope's poems, and plays, romances, etc., 
that she reads, and asks questions about them in 
company — ' What do you think of Helen? What 
do you think of Hector, etc.? What character 
do you like best?' . . . These are questions 
that prove a thinking mind. E. asks none such." 

Where was little Dorothy at this time? Nest- 
ling in her trundle-bed or sitting on a cricket by 
the fireside, stroking her kitten, a quiet observer 
absorbing and wondering what they meant as 
talk rattled from grave to gay. 

Adams soothes himself after he has drawn off 
into the stillness of his room with : " I am very 
thankful for these checks — good treatment makes 
me think I am admired and beloved — a check, a 
frown, a sneer, a sarcasm rouses my spirits, 
makes me more careful and considerate. It 
may, in short, be made a question whether good 
treatment or bad is best for me." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 21 

Backgammon and cards were the diversions 
among the men, with the never-failing punch. 
Adams condemns it, remarking, " While a hun- 
dred of the best books lie on the shelves, desks 
and chairs in the same room." And, as to a 
game of cards, he continues, " It gratifies none 
of the senses, neither sight, hearing, taste, smell- 
ing, nor feeling ; it can entertain the mind only 
by hushing its clamors. That cards, backgam- 
mon, etc., are the greatest antidotes to reflection, 
to thinking — that cruel tyrant within us." 3 

Sewell, whose courtship brought him to Brain- 
tree, commonly on Saturdays, where he remained 
until Monday, was frequently seen by Adams, 
who describes him as possessed of " lively wit, 
a pleasing humor, a brilliant imagination, a great 
subtlety of reasoning and an insinuating elo- 
quence." 6 

In another work is a notice of the engagement. 
" Sewell soon fell in love with Miss Esther 
Ouincy, fourth daughter of Edmund Quincy. 
This young lady was celebrated for her beauty, 
vivacity and spirit. Their courtship extended 
several years." 

John Adams met him every Sunday at the 
Quincy's, and a great intimacy followed, but he 
could not " coincide in his views about Great 
Britain and her power." 7 

Adams says of Sewell : " Political principles 
were to me, in that state of the country, sacred. 



2a DOROTHY QUINCY 

I could not follow him and he could not follow 
me." This shows how early the seeds of thought 
were developing on the vital problem of the 
country among the men of Massachusetts. 

In Tudor's *' Life of James Otis " he says of 
Judge Sewell : " Though he was always opposed 
to every measure of injustice against his country, 
he adhered to the side of the ministry from be- 
lieving, as did many others, that the power of 
England could at any time crush the colonies." 

Judge Sewell was married to Miss Quincy in 
1763. They had two sons, John, born in Cam- 
bridge in 1766 ; and Stephen, born in Boston 
in 1770. The year 1775 found them seeking 
refuge in England, but in 1788 they returned to 
Nova Scotia. Here Judge Sewell died Septem- 
ber 16, 1796, aged sixty-eight. John, the son, 
was appointed Chief Justice of Lower Canada, 
and Stephen became Attorney-General of Can- 
ada. 8 

Mrs. Sewell, who was born November 26, 1738, 
died January 25, 1810. 

There were still other believers with St. Chry- 
sostom, that " woman is a desirable calamity, a 
dreadful fascination ;" as all the daughters of 
Judge Quincy married with the exception of 
Katherine. 

Elizabeth, the eldest, born October 15, 1729, 
married Samuel Sewell May 18, 1749. She died 
February 15, 1770. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 23 

Sarah, born October 2, 1736, married General 
Wm. Greenleaf, of Lancaster, Mass., December 
20. 1763. Died March 12, 1790. 

Edmund Ouincy's son Henry, born January 
20, 1726-7, married Mary Salter. His second 
wife was Eunice Newell. 

Edmund Quincy, born February 5, 1725-6, 
married Ann Husk. 

Jacob, born October 2, 1734. graduated at 
Harvard Colleg'c in 1753. He served at Crown 
Point in 1756 with Colonel Joseph Dwight's Reg- 
iment. 9 Was physician and surgeon on the gov- 
ernment vessel called " The Country's Ship," 
which sailed for the West Indies. Dr. Quincy 
invested extensively while there, the opportunity 
being favorable. 

In 1760 he married Elizabeth Williams, daugh- 
ter of Captain John Williams, of Boston. His 
death took place at St. Eustatius, W. I., June 15, 
1773. The family neglected to secure his prop- 
erty, but years after Daniel Webster was con- 
sulted by one of the descendants as to the recov- 
ery of the estate. He was willing to take the 
^casc, and go to Demerara himself, if allowed half 
of the property for his fee. 



CHAPTER III. 

Dorothy Quincv. 

Dorothy Quincy, the youngest and naturally 
the caressed darling - of this large family, had seen 
her attractive elder sisters pass from their home 
to establishments of their own — drop out from 
the kindred circle into the matrimonial fold with 
men of their choice. 

These sisters had been the confidants of her 
little plans and pranks, the directors of her games 
and frolics ; had smiled approvingly or laughed 
at their absurdity as the heart unfolded in its 
artless freshness. This was prior to education 
from contact with the world, which trains the 
heart to conceal its emotions — to check its en- 
thusiasms. Dorothy was too young to have had 
much companionship with her sisters. 

Carefully reared under a gentle mother's 
watchfulness through the early part of her life, 
when old enough she was launched into the social 
world under more favorable auspices than usually 
fall to the lot of a young girl. Cultured and 
agreeable she drew friends and attracted admir- 
ers ; she won all hearts, and a place in society 



DOROTHY QUINCY 35 

from which nothing could dethrone her. Ad- 
mired and sought after Dorothy Quincy steered 
through the dangerous shoals of high-seasoned 
compliments to remain a bright, unspoiled beauty 
that no flattery could harm. 

None of her suitors met with especial favor, 
and she remained heart-whole until one man was 
pictured to her mind endowed with qualities 
nearer to her standard than any she had known. 

She had sat demurely listening to her father's 
visitors as they dilated on the merits of this rising- 
young citizen — this resolute advocate of justice 
who unflinchingly braved the mother country — 
until it riveted her attention, touched a respon- 
sive chord, roused her enthusiasm modestly held 
in check, and an intense admiration gradually 
moulded John Hancock into the beau-ideal of 
her day-dreams as he also filled the reveries of 
other fair ones. 

A French writer tells us that " the heart of a 
woman is never unoccupied," and Dorothy 
Quincy had reached that stage. She watched 
and saw Hancock spring into popular favor, 
gradually onward and upward, winning positions 
that even older men would have been gratified to 
fill. 



CHAPTER IV. 

John Hancock's Parentage — Thomas Hancock — J. 
Hancock in London — His Return Home — En- 
ters Public Life. 

John Hancock was born in 1737 at Braintree, 
Mass., of which it has been said : " There is no 
spot in New England consecrated by more mem- 
orable associations and less worthy to be noticed 
with a passing, negligent or superficial observa- 
tion. Here also lived the ancestors of Samuel 
Adams, the patriot ; and John Adams, the Presi- 
dent of the United States." 1 

" The father of John Hancock was the Rev. 
John Hancock, who graduated from Harvard, 
and was ordained a minister at Braintree." 

" His grandfather, Rev. John Hancock, re- 
sided at Lexington, Mass., where his home be- 
came in time an historic monument." He has 
been described as a " man of stern Puritanic stuff, 
but a lover of a good story and a cheerful word 
nevertheless. His word was law as well as gos- 
pel among his Lexington parishioners. Bishop 
Hancock he was sometimes called, and in the 
town records Sir Hancock, a title occasionally 
ariven the old New England ministers." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 27 

John Hancock's juvenile days were passed un- 
der a religious influence, the precepts of which 
he retained through life. He lost his father when 
seven years old, and was then adopted by his 
uncle, Thomas Hancock, who resided in Boston. 
He was one of the richest and most respected 
merchants of that city. 

Mr. Thomas Hancock had built in 1737 a 
handsome house on Beacon street. The grounds 
extended from Mt. Vernon to Joy street. The 
garden was laid out with extreme care, filled with 
rare trees and shrubs, for which Mr. Hancock 
showed a great predilection, sending abroad to 
obtain the choicest varieties. 

The interior of the mansion was adorned with 
all that wealth could procure from England to 
add to the comfort and elegance of a home. The 
numerous orders of Mr. Thomas Hancock com- 
prised wall paper, the designs to be animals, birds 
and flowers ; the best sterling Madeira wines for 
his own use. And he wrote, " I don't stand for 
any price, provided the quality of the wine 
answers to it." Everything must be of the first 
quality, from the " best new rose May butter " to 
the " eiderdown bed cover ;" and " the best quart 
bottles of champagne " to " the best of paper." 2 

Negroes were the servants at that time, being 
most kindly cared for by this family. Thomas 
Hancock willed several to his widow ; and one, 



28 DOROTHY QUINCY 

from attachment for his faithful services, was 
buried in the Hancock plot. 

Thomas Hancock's generous heart, overflow- 
ing with love for his nephew, liberally indulged 
him, which did not result in the wreck of a fine 
man, as might have been expected, because of the 
solid foundation of his character. 

In 1754 John Hancock graduated from Har- 
vard, and in 1763 he started on a foreign tour 
under the auspices of Governor Pownal, who 
was his uncle's friend. They visited England 
and witnessed the funeral ceremonies over King 
George II. 

In a letter of John Hancock's from London, 
October 29, 1760, he writes : "Sunday last the 
Prince of Wales was proclaimed King thro' ye 
city with pomp and joy. His coronation, I am 
told, will not be till April ; that I can't yet de- 
termine whether I shall stay to see it, but rather 
think I shall, as it is the grandest thing I shall 
ever meet with." 3 

John Hancock was in London and witnessed 
this brilliant ceremony. Later he was presented 
at court. As this tall, comely youth bent low be- 
fore him no thought entered King George's mind 
that he would become a powerful factor against 
his sovereign power ; nor that fifteen years later 
he would set a price on his head — this man who 
was to be President of the American Congress 



DOROTHY QUINCY 29 

that should declare for the independence of the 
King's colonies. 

John Hancock was treated with consideration, 
and had given to him a snuff-box on which was 
the King's likeness. 

March of that year, in a vein of strong com- 
mon-sense, he wrote from London : " I shall 
with satisfaction bid adieu to this grand place, 
with all its pleasurable enjoyments and tempting 
scenes, for more substantial pleasures, which I 
promise myself in the enjoyment of my friends in 
America." 1 

Hancock landed in Boston from his foreign 
travel with no pretension nor affectation, but with 
broadened ideas and instructed in the govern- 
ment of European countries, from which he re- 
turned a lover of his own land and of republican- 
ism. The seed had been sown, and when ripened 
it developed him into one of the most indefatig- 
able of patriots, for he applied himself to the 
study of his country and of its needs. 

Public attention was fixed on the Stamp Act. 
Pitt rose in the House of Commons to discuss it 
and uttered these words : "In a good cause, on 
a sound bottom, the force of this country can 
crush America to atoms. I know the valor of 
your troops ; I know the skill of your officers. "^ 
Whereas Franklin, when summoned before Par- 
liament, said : "They will not find a rebellion ; 
they may indeed make one with their Stamp 



30 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Act." 6 In 1765 the Stamp Act was passed, and 
John Hancock openly denounced it and declared 
he would not use the stamps. " I will not be 
made a slave of without my consent." . . . 
" Not a man in England, in proportion to estate, 
pays the tax that I do !" 

This inaugurated one of those critical periods 
that tries a man's ability, and John Hancock 
stood the test. Honors followed him, and in 
1766 and '67 he was sent a representative to the 
General Court. " He was appointed chairman 
upon deliberations which involved the highest in- 
terest of the community." 

John Adams said of him : " The two men 
whom I have known to enter the stage of life 
with the most luminous, unclouded prospects and 
the best founded hopes were James Otis and John 
Hancock." 7 

Thus Dorothy Quincy's favorable impressions 
of John Hancock were constantly replenished by 
fresh and striking incidents of his spirit and fear- 
lessness. September, 1768, when it was rumored 
that troops had been ordered from Halifax, Sam- 
uel Adams, John Hancock, John Adams and 
James Otis waited upon the Governor to ask if 
the report was true, and requested him to call a 
special meeting of the Assembly. He declined, 
but his " tone was more conciliator)' when he saw 
the popularity of the. leaders." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 31 

They held a meeting, in defiance of Governor 
Bernard's refusal, in Faneuil Hall, and ninety- 
six towns were represented. They resolved they 
would peril their lives and fortunes to defend their 
rights, etc. ;" " that money cannot be granted, 
nor a standing army kept up in the province, but 
by their own free consent." 

These were the men who would not, at the call 
of the British ministry, rescind their resolutions 
denying the power of Parliament to tax the col- 
onies ; nor would they recall the circular ad- 
dressed to other colonies asking their co-opera- 
tion and support in defence of their just rights. s 

Soon after seven armed vessels from Halifax 
brought troops to Boston and pointed their guns 
at the shore. The crowd on the wharf looked on 
in sullen silence while they landed and " tramped 
by with colors flying — the drums beating — as if 
entering a conquered city." 9 

They had great difficulty in securing quarters, 
the inhabitants giving them no aid ; so some en- 
camped on the Common. 

John Adams writes, as days rolled on, how 
serious and indignant it made him to have the 
soldiers drilled constantly in front of his house ; 
and it was not dispelled, though, as he says, some- 
what soothed " by the sweet songs, violins and 
flutes of the serenading Sons of Liberty under my 
windows in the evening." 10 



32 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Large dinners were given to keep the men in 
closer touch ; and Adams relates of one, in 1769, 
where two tables were laid in an open field, near 
a barn, with an awning overhead ; that three 
hundred and fifty Sons of Liberty sat down to the 
feast. He writes : " To the honor of the Sons I 
did not see one person intoxicated, or near it." 

" Between four and five o'clock the carriages 
were all got ready, and the company rode off in 
procession — Mr. Hancock first, in his chariot, 
and another chariot bringing up the rear." 



CHAPTER V. 

TitE Endeavors to Win Hancock — Samuel Adams 
Upholds Him — Adams and Hancock at Vari- 
ance — Their Reconciliation — Dorothy Quincy 
Loses Her Mother — John Hancock's and Dor- 
othy Quincy's Attraction to Each Other. 

On March 5, 1770, Boston received its first 
shock of hostilities. British soldiers had fired 
and blood had been shed. This stung- into ani- 
mosity both young and old, and the event was 
ever after known as the " Boston Massacre." 

The following day there gathered a meeting of 
the inhabitants, and Samuel Adams, with John 
Hancock at the head of a committee, requested 
Governor Hutchinson to remove the troops. 1 
From this time each fresh exaction of the Home 
Government lighted on a smouldering spark 
which finally, with volcanic force, broke forth into 
an eruption that convulsed the country. 

Lord Hillsborough wrote to the Governor that 
he had it in command from highest authority to 
enjoin him to promote Mr. Hancock on every 
occasion. - 

In 1771 the royal Governor notified a friend in 
England that Hancock " was one of those of any 



34 DOROTHY QUINCY 

consideration who still held out against him," but 
he thought he could end his influence. 3 

He endeavored by conciliation to win him, and 
offered to Hancock a commission, honoring him 
with a seat in the council, but " the patriot tore 
the parchment into shreds in the presence of the 
people."* 

" He offered to John Adams an office, which 
he hurled back with disdain." 

Governor Hutchinson, though desirous to se- 
cure Hancock on the side of the Government, had 
to contend against Samuel Adams, equally solic- 
itous to retain him with the patriots ; and every 
influence was brought to bear by these opposing 
parties to enroll him in their ranks. 

It was at this juncture that Samuel Adams and 
Hancock had a break in their friendship, which 
lasted a year. 5 This greatly encouraged Gov- 
ernor Hutchinson, who now believed the way 
open to gain his point. Notices were circulated 
and sent to England that Hancock had been won 
over ; but Hutchinson and his agents failed to 
accomplish it with all their schemes. 

Samuel Adams, in a letter to Arthur Lee, April 
9, 1773, magnanimously wrote of Hancock : " It 
was maliciously reported that he had deserted the 
faction and become a friend of the Government. 
With spirit Hancock refused a seat at the Board, 
and continued a member of the House, where he 
in every instance joined with friends of the Con- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 35 

stitution in opposition to the measures of a cor- 
rupt administration ; and, in particular, no one 
discoursed with more firmness against the inde- 
pendence of the Governor and the judges than 
he." 6 

Historians tell us there had been "many knaves 
ready to widen the breach between Adams and 
Hancock, but they were soon detected, and mu- 
tual friends made up the difference." 7 

After their reconciliation John Hancock had 
the full length portrait of Samuel Adams painted 
by John Singleton Copley ; also one of himself. 
These hung in his drawing-room for fifty years, 
and were then placed in Faneuil Hall. 8 

In 1769 Dorothy Quincy had the misfortune to 
lose her mother, who was followed to the old 
Granary Burying Ground by a very large con- 
course of relatives and friends. 

There was one among them, a highly accom- 
plished lady, Mrs. Lydia Hancock, widow of 
Thomas Hancock, who had a particular predilec- 
tion for this motherless girl, to whom she later 
acted as chaperon, and lavished on her much 
affection. 

Under these circumstances there had also been 
received at the house of Judge Quincy John Han- 
cock, the nephew and adopted son of this same 
lady. Thus Dorothy Quincy came into closer 
amity with her hero. 



36 DOROTHY QUINCY 

The silent, mutual predilection for each other 
did not escape the watchful eye of " Aunt Lydia," 
who improved her opportunities to extol the 
nephew's numerous virtues ; and many civilities 
were extended to Miss Quincy whenever she 
called at the Hancock mansion. 

Mention of this captivating favorite is in the 
memoirs of J. Singleton Copley. Her name is 
included " among the distinguished women of 
the time — and all noted in their time for unusual 
attractions." 

Xot to have been attracted to Dorothy Quincy 
would have argued a man of steel, of which there 
are but few. Men cold, calculating and hard — 
so incased in self that all woman's lovable charms 
fail to penetrate or leave the faintest impress. 

John Hancock, with a heart full of patriotism, 
found also place to install there the fair Dorothy ; 
and. when in time this ardent pleader for the 
rights of the colonies pleaded as warmly for the 
hand of this gentle girl, he gained a favorable 
answer to his suit. 

There is a tradition in the family that Hancock 
was first captivated by the daintily slippered feet 
of his lady-love as she stepped out of church one 
Sabbath day, which looks as if other thoughts had 
taken foothold in Mr. John Hancock's mind than 
of the good sermon just delivered. 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Patriots — Hancock. Colonel of tile Cadets — 
His Benevolence — The " Tea Party " — Lafay- 
ette on the Tories. 

Private meetings were beginning" to be held for 
public action in 1772, and John Adams, Samuel 
Adams, John Hancock, Josiah Quincy, Dr. 
Church and Dr. Warren were the leaders. Jo- 
siah Quincy was the son of Josiah Quincy, 
brother of Edmund Quincy, an ardent believer 
in and supporter of American liberty. 

" These men were exceedingly vigilant and no- 
ticed every infringement of natural or chartered 
rights on the part of the Government and its 
agents. In the House of Representatives they 
originated almost every measure for the public 
good, and the people esteemed them as the zeal- 
ous guardians of their rights and privileges." 1 
Nor could they have been enrolled in Sidney 
Smith's category of " Sheep Walkers,'' who never 
deviate from the beaten track, and " start from a 
new idea as they would from guilt." 

How the men of brains rallied at the cry of 
wrong and injustice ! With what firmness they 



38 DOROTHY QUINCY 

kept up the chorus of " No taxation !" toiling day 
and night with their arraignment. How their 
names stand out from the background of British 
oppression, holding the distinction of the fore- 
most advocates of liberty ! They were not vio- 
lent, but went moderately and guardedly, well 
weighing their decisions, which were afterward 
weighed by the people, who balanced each propo- 
sition promulgated by the patriots for their bet- 
terment. 

By a unanimous vote Hancock was now elected 
colonel to command the Independent Cadets of 
the Governor's Company, the oldest military or- 
ganization next to the Ancient and Honorable 
Artillery Company. As the officers were chosen 
by the company, the Governor gave the commis- 
sion, not liking to offend a hundred gentlemen. - 

His time fully occupied with public duties, yet 
John Hancock was ever ready to lend an ear to 
a tale of suffering, and was most liberal out of his 
great abundance. Hundreds and hundreds of 
families received their daily bread from his pri- 
vate benevolence. 3 

He subscribed one thousand pounds toward 
the erection of the Brattle-Street Church, and re- 
served for himself the right of erecting a mahog- 
any pulpit and furniture, a mahogany deacon's 
seat and communion table, and seats for poor 
widows and others unable to provide for them- 
selves.* 



DOROTHY QUINCY 39 

He gave the bell, and it was rung the first time 
on October 28, 1774. On it was this inscription : 

" I to the Church the living call, 
And to the grave I summon all." 5 

This church, not long after, was used by the 
British as a barracks. 

Dorothy Quincy noted, with deep-felt satisfac- 
tion, that every measure for the good of the coun- 
try was stamped with John Hancock's name. 

When duties had been levied upon the import- 
ation of foreign merchandise by the British Gov- 
ernment Hancock, with other citizens, formed an 
association to prohibit the importation of British 
goods ; an example followed by the other colo- 
nies. And he was placed at the head of it. 

" Hancock offered one of his vessels free of 
charge to re-ship what tea was stored in Boston." 6 
Then came that memorable November day of 
1773 when appeared the ships tea-laden, and the 
excited Bostonians declared, " if it came in free 
of duty, or if not, that tea should not be landed." 

A verse from the rallying song of the tea party 
at the Green Dragon reads : 

" Rally, Mohawks ! bring out your axes, 
And tell King George we'll pay no taxes 

On his foreign tea ; 
His threats are vain, and vain to think 
To force our girls and wives to drink 

His vile Bohea ! 
Then rally, boys, and hasten on 
To meet our chiefs at the Green Dragon." 7 



40 DOROTHY QUINCY 

My grandmother has related the story of a tap 
on the door and an order given that no one must 
leave the house before nine o'clock. A solemn 
and mysterious warning to the relatives of Dor- 
othy Quincy ! 

Months later an ode came out in the New 
Hampshire Gazette, beginning with this verse : 

" What discontents, what dire events, 
From trifling things proceed ! 
A little Tea, thrown in the sea, 
Has thousands caused to bleed." 

Major Thomas Maxwell tells his experience 
thus : "In 1773 I went with my team to Boston. 
I loaded at John Hancock's warehouse, and was 
about to leave town when Mr. Hancock requested 
me to drive my team up into his yard, and ordered 
his servants to take care of it, and requested me 
to be on Long Wharf at 2 o'clock P. M., and in- 
formed me what was to be done. I went accord- 
ingly, joined the band under one Captain Hewes ; 
we mounted the ships and made tea in a trice. 
This done I took my team and went home, as an 
honest man should.'"" 

Major Maxwell's war spirit carried him into 
the Concord fight, and to Bunker Hill, but this 
was probably his first and last appearance as a 
" Mohawk." 

The shades of night were gathering when these 
masqueraders began their task, and it was near 
three hours before it was completed. Three hun- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 41 

dred and forty-two chests they broke open and 
the contents scattered into the water. None was 
allowed to be purloined, but a small quantity of 
it, which had been shaken out of a shoe, may be 
seen in a vial at Memorial Hall. 

The public mind was perturbed over the course 
of the King and the ministry, and there were 
hours of the greatest solicitude as to the next 
move in England. Men's passions were all 
aflame, while the course of the rising patriots con- 
tinued to excite the ire of the Tories. A writer 
thus gave vent to the feeling concerning the com- 
mittee of 1774, John Hancock being one of its 
members : 

" This is the foulest, subtlest, and most venom- 
ous serpent ever issued from the egg of sedition. 
It is the source of the rebellion." 9 

Allow to everyone his individual opinion, and 
spare particularly from too severe criticism and 
villification those who work to redress a wrong. 
The Tories were upholding their Government, 
the patriots their rights ; and a man can endure 
scorn and contumely when his conscience sus- 
tains him. 

Lafayette wrote of the Tories from Camp, De- 
cember 30, 1777, to George Washington : "When 
I was in Europe I thought that here every man 
was a lover of liberty, and would rather die free 
than live a slave. You can conceive my aston- 
ishment when I saw that Toryism was as openly 
professed as Whiggism itself." 



CHAPTER VII. 

Adams' Entry in His Diary — Dorothy Quincy's 
Characteristics — Hancock's " Massacre Ora- 
tion " — Rejoicings of the Quincys — The Port 
Bill — Troops Landed — Enmity of Governor 
Gage — John Hancock's Rise — Praise of the 
Prominent Patriots — John Adams, Hancock's 
Lawyer — Provisional Congress. 

John Adams wrote in his diary, 1772 : " Spent 
last Sunday eve at Dr. Cooper's with Justice 
Quincy and Mr. W. C. We were very social, 
and we chatted at large upon Caesar, Cromwell, 
etc." Was this conversation at all significant of 
future projects for America? 

John Hancock, who allowed no time for idle- 
ness, made leisure also to drop in at Justice 
Quincy's, responding to the powerful magnet 
that attracted him, and to the influence he volun- 
tarily bowed. Unfortunately he has left no diary 
record of the topics of conversation, but is it not 
safe to assert that a certain Don Cupid dominated 
the tone? 

Dorothy Quincy seems to have had the " pearl 
chain of all virtues," and John Hancock had come 
under the spell of a high-toned woman, refined, 
intellifent, who made no effort to swerve him 



DOROTHY QUINCY 43 

from duty or expose him to censure ; but was an 
incentive and spur to higher aims and action. 

A woman's influence, if for good, is the most 
potent ruler a man can have ; but, if used to warp 
his better judgment, she stands as the falsest of 
friends and most dangerous of enemies. 

The bold doctrines of Massachusetts, which at 
this period had the largest population, were 
looked upon favorably, and extended to other 
colonies. General Gage, who was undergoing 
his trials, bursts out in a despairing strain : 

' This province, which is the most openly de- 
fiant, is supported and abetted by others beyond 
the conception of most people and foreseen by 
mine. The disease was believed to have been 
confined to the town of Boston, from whence it 
might have been eradicated no doubt without a 
great deal of trouble, and it might have been the 
case some time ago ; but now it is universal — 
there is no knowing where to apply a remedy." 1 

Dorothy Quincy's lover had launched into the 
unknown sea of rebellion with hardihood and 
fearlessness. He knew not how the future would 
develop, but his inmost soul bore the stamp that 
lie was on the side of right. 

The month of March, 1774, Hancock delivered 
the anniversary oration on the " Massacre," which 
had taken place at Boston in 1770. It was the 
custom on these occasions to exhibit the portraits 
of the murderers and the slaughtered citizens t>> 



44 DOROTHY QUINCY 

public view ;~ a. most successful method of tem- 
pering the blood to a proper heat against Britain. 

Samuel Adams describes him as " a graceful, 
easy speaker, self-possessed and dignified in ac- 
tion, and thoroughly understood by an audience 
of his native townsmen." 3 

John Hancock, without shrinking or demur, 
on this occasion calmly faced the assemblage be- 
fore him. History tells us, " Though the streets 
were full of British soldiers, and some collected 
to hear him, he denounced the conduct of the 
administration in its various oppressive acts, and 
especially in sending an armed force to be sta- 
tioned in the capital in time of peace." He was 
bold and eloquent, exciting the astonishment 
alike of his friends and foes." 4 

John Adams, who was present, spoke of it as 
" an elegant, a pathetic, a spirited performance." 
" A vast crowd raining eyes, etc." " Many of the 
sentiments came with great propriety from him, 
his invectives particularly against a preference of 
riches to virtue came with singular dignity and 
grace." 5 

These few extracts are from the speech :" I 
conjure you by all that is dear, by all that is hon- 
orable, by all that is sacred, not only that you 
pray, but that you act ; that, if necessary, you 
fight and even die for the prosperity of our Jeru- 
salem. Break in sunder with noble disdain the 
bonds with which the Philistines have bound 



DOROTHY QUINCY 45 

you." . . . "Some boast of being friends of 
government. I also am a friend to government, 
to a righteous government, founded upon the 
principles of reason and justice ; but I glory in 
avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny." He 
suggested a " Congress of Deputies from the sev- 
eral Houses of Assembly on the continent as the 
most effectual method of establishing a union for 
the security of the rights and liberties " of the 
country. 

An account of this address speaks of its " giv- 
ing great offence to the Executive, and more es- 
pecially to the officers of the standing army. In- 
deed, it was a striking act of intrepidity." 6 

John Adams on that day dined with neighbor 
Quincy, and says, that " the happiness of the fam- 
ily where I dined, upon account of the colonel's 
justly-applauded oration, was complete. The 
Justice and his daughters were all joyous." 

It was stated that Hancock and Samuel Adams 
had consulted together over the character of the 
matter suitable for this occasion, which gave his 
maligners an opportunity to assert that Adams 
had composed the speech, while others gave out 
that it was Dr. Cooper. It was the same spirit 
of detraction that assailed George Washington. 

John Andrews, in a letter April 14, 1774, writes 
of the oration, " It's generally allowed to be a 
good composition (and asserted to be his own 
production), both spirited and nervous." 8 



4b DOROTHY QUINCY 

Hancock had, however, much encouragement 
and commendation extended to him. Samuel 
Adams wrote, "Can you think that, while you are 
a good man, that all will speak well of you?"'' 

A song, with a prediction of the " Triumphs of 
the American Ensign," closes with this allusion 
to Hancock: 

" Strong knit is the band which unites the best land, 
No demon the union can sever ; 
Here's a glass to fair Freedom ! come give us your 
hand ; 
May the ORATOR nourish forever !" 10 

The Port bill, which took effect June ist, 1774, 
was the seal of disaster to Boston. " The city 
went into mourning ; the colors of the vessels 
were put at half-mast, the ring of bells at Christ's 
Church was muffled and rung a solemn peal at 
intervals from morning till night." 11 " It cut off 
not only the foreign trade, but the whole of its 
domestic by water. . . . This closed many 
of the stores on Long Wharf." 12 Laborers stood 
idle, the harbor was deserted, property injured 
and decaying until compassionate towns north 
and south sent food to their relief. All took up 
the cause of the suffering Bostonians. 13 

The aspect of affairs was still more belligerent 
when troops arrived from Halifax to enforce the 
Port bill. Additional ones were ordered from 
Quebec, New York and New Jersey. This mili- 
tary display caused continuous chafing and ran- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 47 

cor. The stride from irritation to wrath is rapid 
if the provocation is not removed ; and when the 
Bostonians felt the insolent redcoats brush 
against them with a laugh, or epithet, their deep 
murmurings rose into harsh, wordy warfare. 

Samuel Adams, John Hancock and James Otis 
waited on the Governor and requested him to call 
a special meeting of the General Assembly, which 
he refused. In the face of this, on the 17th of 
June, 1774, they met, sitting with closed doors, 
and declined to open them to the Governor's sec- 
retary, who had been sent to dissolve the court, 
giving in reply that the House was occupied with 
very important business, and when that was fin- 
ished he would be admitted. The secretary was 
thus forced to read his proclamation from the 
steps. 14 

John Hancock was now to experience person- 
ally the enmity of Governor Gage. In August 
he removed him from command of the Cadets 
without assigning a reason. The Cadet Corps, 
officers and members, immediately convened, 
voted no longer to meet and act as a military as- 
sociation, then sent their standard to the com- 
mander-in-chief. 

On the 1 8th of the month an address was for- 
warded to Colonel Hancock, signed by fifty-two 
members, which had this paragraph : " At a 
period when the post of honor is a private station 
it cannot be thought strange that a gentleman of 



48 DOROTHY QUINCY 

your distinguished character should meet with 
every discouragement from those in power." 15 

Hancock's rise on the wave of popularity, we 
have seen, kindled unpopularity with " the ad- 
herents of the crown, whom his boldness exas- 
perated, and every artifice was put in requisition 
to injure him." 16 But no obstacle had checked 
John Hancock's career ; none could check it. 
His rise was higher and higher. Assailed by 
enemies, tricked by seeming friends, persecuted 
by the British, mocking verses hurled at him, 
open criticism and covert plots — did any of it, or 
did it all combined, arrest his progress to high 
office? 

The verse-makers continued their merry jin- 
gles, and there was published in the Massachu- 
setts Spy of September, 1774 : 

" Your Colonel H-n-k, by neglect 
Has been deficient in respect ; 
As he my Sovereign toe ne'er kissed, 
'Twas proper he should be dismissed ; 
I never was, and never will 
By mortal man be treated ill !" 

John Hancock, unlike the eminent French wri- 
ter, who " envied beasts their ignorance of what 
was said of them," bore the strictures of those in 
and out of power unmoved, maintaining a digni- 
fied silence. 

The indefatigable Massachusetts patriots con- 
tinued their labors under impediment and dis- 
couragement. How we cherish their names ! 



DOROTHY QUINCY 49 

What an intrepid, indomitable body composed 
the Assembly, united in one great common cause 
" against the oppressive laws of the Home Gov- 
ernment ! " 

In Tndor's " Life of James Otis,'' we find writ- 
ten of them, " that Samuel Adams and John Han- 
cock were chosen the colleagues of James Otis 
and Thomas Cushing, and these four gentlemen, 
who for several years composed the delegation of 
the capital, exercised a wide influence in the af- 
fairs of the province ; and are inseparably con- 
nected with all the events that led to the inde- 
pendence of the United States." 17 

There is further mention of these men, collect- 
ively, in the " Life of General Warren." " There 
were James Otis, Samuel Adams, John Hancock 
and John Adams, and others of large mental cal- 
ibre, who were with him heart and soul. They 
formed a constellation of eloquence, research and 
bravery seldom seen, in such united lustre, in the 
revolutions of the world's history." 1 * 

John Adams wrote, " Samuel Adams, John 
Hancock and James Otis were the three most 
essential characters, and Great Britain knew it, 
though America does not. Great, and important, 
and excellent characters, aroused and excited by 
these, arose in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York 
and South Carolina, and in all the other states ; 
but these three were the first movers — the most 
constant, steady, persevering springs and agents, 



50 DOROTHY QUINCY 

and most disinterested sufferers, and firmest pil- 
lars of the whole Revolution." 19 

The months rolled along through a pathway of 
alarms ; men's tempers sharpened, nerves were 
strung to the highest tension, with excitement at 
the gravest stage ; and there were many sleepless 
nights and anxious days to those watchers over 
their country's security. 

Hancock's independence of the Government 
brought out several suits against him, and John 
Adams, who was his lawyer, wrote : " I was thor- 
oughly weary and disgusted with the court, the 
officers of the crown, the cause, and even with 
the tyrannical bell that dangled me out of my 
house every morning." 20 

October 5, 1774, the members of the Assembly 
resolved themselves into a provincial congress 
and adjourned from Salem to Concord. " Han- 
cock was unanimously elected president from 
among the dignified representatives there assem- 
bled." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Dorothy Quincy's Lover — Royalist Hand-bill — 
British Soldiers Tar and Feather — Voltaire 
on the English — Attack on Hancock's Prem- 
ises — Women's Tea Petition. 

John Hancock loved the refined, subtle influ- 
ence of Dorothy Quincy's charms — to listen to a 
voice the aeolian accompaniment of engaging- 
converse; to look into the great eyes full of ten- 
derness and approval : and when absent, amid eu- 
logium or carping, he carried enshrined in his 
breast a talisman — the image of the fair Dorothy. 

What in John Hancock had attracted Dorothy 
Ouincy — that he should have been installed as the 
arbiter of her destiny? To her eye he appealed 
with his distinguished presence, scrupulous 
toilets ; his inborn courtesy. To her heart with 
his sympathy for the suffering, his devotion to 
those he loved ; his generosity to friends and in- 
feriors. To her ambition with his indomitable 
patriotism, his assured popularity, his rapid ad- 
vancement. And, if crowds were swayed by his 
magnetism, what marvel that it touched and cap- 
tivated Dorothy Quincy ! 



5 2 DOROTHY QUINCY 

This was the suitor for whom she resigned her 
belleship, and it seems as if the training of that 
judicious father had been to fit her for the exalted 
station she afterwards held as Mrs. Hancock. 

John Adams, writing on this subject, says : 
" His choice was very natural, a grand-daughter 
of the great patron and most reverend friend of 
his father. Beauty, politeness, and every domes- 
tic virtue, justified his predilection." 1 

There was much to alarm Dorothy Quincy in 
the stand that her lover had taken ; but she ap- 
preciated that a man is entitled to credit for his 
patriotic services — the bold front he shows under 
trying circumstances ; his perseverance in over- 
coming obstacles, and she would not have had 
him recede one step even in the face of the British 
sword suspended over his life. For the soldiers 
of the crown had lost no time in distributing a 
royalist hand-bill with this heading, " To the Sol- 
diers of His Majesty's Troop in Boston." It con- 
tained a list of the authors of the rebellion, Sam- 
uel Adams, John Hancock, Josiah Quincy being 
among those enumerated, and announcing that 
it was probable the King's standard would soon 
be erected. 

It continued : " The friends of our King and 
country and of America hope, and expect it from 
you soldiers the instant rebellion happens, that 
you will put the above persons immediately to the 
sword, destroy their houses and plunder their ef- 



DOROTHY QU1NCY 53 

fects. It is just they should be the first victims 
to the mischiefs they have brought upon us." 2 

In January, 1775, it looked as if the patriots 
were still good subjects, sending a " Petition of 
the Continental Congress to the King, Most Ex- 
cellent Majesty," wherein they asked " but for 
peace, liberty and safety," and that " your royal 
authority over us, and our connection with Great 
Britain, we shall always carefully and zealously 
endeavor to support and maintain." 3 

This brought no terms to calm the disquieted 
mind and temper of colonial subjects. On the 
contrary the oppressions redoubled, and the per- 
sistent roughness of the troops continued un- 
checked. 

March 20th an inhabitant of Billerica, Mass., 
was tarred and feathered by a party of His Majes- 
ty's Forty-seventh Regiment. The selectmen 
sent a remonstrance to His Excellency, Gage, in 
which they said : " Lieutenant-Colonel Nesbitt 
is an officer under Your Excellency's command. 
Of yon, therefore, we demand satisfaction for the 
insult committed by him. We beg, Your Excel- 
lency, that the breach now too wide between 
Great Britain and this province may not, by such 
brutality of the troops, still be increased. . . . 
If it continues we shall hereafter use a different 
style from that of petition and complaint." 

This threat lay treasured in the storehouse of 
memory. 



54 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Watchful friends wrote anxiously from Lon- 
don, February 10, 1775 : " There is gone down 
to Sherness seventy-eight thousand guns and bay- 
onets to be sent to America to put into the hands 
of the negroes, the Roman Catholics and the 
Canadians, and all the wicked means on earth 
used to subdue the colonies. I don't write this 
to alarm you, but you must not any longer be de- 
ceived. Orders have now gone out to take up 
Messrs. Hancock, Adams, Williams, Otis and six 
of the head men in Boston. 1 have now a copy 
of the proceedings before me. My heart aches 
for Mr. Hancock. Send off expresses imme- 
diately that they intend to seize his estate and 

have his fine house for General " 4 

How another heart, sensitive and gentle, must 
have ached at this announcement, for it sounded 
like a blast of war ; and the Bostonians were to 
be credited with provoking it. 

Voltaire, who had compared the English to 
their own beer — " froth at top, dregs at bottom 
and the middle excellent" — was a firm believer 
in great America's future. 

The following is an extract from a letter of his 
on taxes to the late Earl of Chesterfield, said to 
have been written about this time : " In the midst 
of your nation's folly and blindness I can see a 
new world opening that will prove an asylum for 
all your honest, industrious people ; and I think 
a few years will discover the island of Britain to 



DOROTHY OUINCY 55 

have for its inhabitants only two sorts of animals 
— tyrants and slaves." 5 

The British soldiery became so incensed 
against Hancock that they resorted to violence, 
and March 15th their officers attacked his house 
in Boston, broke the windows and were very abu- 
sive. The following notice in the Pennsylvania 
Evening Post gives the details : 

"They hacked the fence also of Colonel Han- 
cock's elegant seat, and on the 19th the inferior 
officers and privates entered his inclosures and 
refused to retire after his requesting them, telling 
him his house, stables, etc., would soon be theirs ; 
that they would do as they pleased. On his ap- 
plication to the General he immediately sent one 
of his aides-de-camp to the officer of the guard at 
the bottom of the Common to seize any officer 
or private W T ho should molest Colonel Hancock." 

And General Gage ordered the fences repaired. 

Now came an edict, issued by the legislators, 
which the women of the country sharply resented. 

In March Congress recommended the disuse 
of all East India teas. " The committee request 
that their constituents, in their several families, 
will adhere to this resolution, and however diffi- 
cult the disuse of any article which custom has 
rendered familiar, to many almost necessary, yet 
they are induced to hope the ladies will cheerfully 
acquiesce in their self-denial, and thereby evince 



S 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

to the world a love to their friends, posterity and 
country." 

This drew forth the following appeal : 

" Petition of divers Old Women of the city of 
Philadelphia, Humbly sheweth That your petition- 
ers, as well spinsters as married, having been long 
accustomed to the drinking of Tea, fear it will be 
utterly impossible for them to exhibit so much 
Patriotism as wholly to disuse it. Your Petition- 
ers beg leave to observe that, having already dm p.* 
all possible injury to their nerves and health with 
this delectable herb, they shall think it extremely 
hard not to enjoy it for the remainder of their 
lives. Your Petitioners would further represent 
that coffee and chocolate, or any other substitute 
hitherto proposed, they humbly apprehend, from 
their heaviness, must destroy that brilliancy of 
fancy and fluency of expression usually found at 
Tea-tables when we are handling the conduct or 
character of our absent acquaintances. Your Pe- 
titioners are also informed there are several old 
women of the oilier sex laboring under the like 
difficulties, who apprehend the above restriction 
will be wholly insupportable, and that it is a sacri- 
fice infinitely too great to be made to save the 
Lives, Liberties and Privileges of any country 
whatever, etc. A petition to be presented to the 
Assembly now sitting, or next Congress or Com- 
mittee." 6 



DOROTHY QUINCY S7 

These women felt that they could not give up 
their Bohea to aid the cause : but a woman of 
Rhode Island, when the hour came, sent her ten 
sons out to fight for their country, her bleeding 
heart concealed under words of encouragement. 
The '* great Whig ladies " continued their tea- 
drinking, exultant at concealing it by substitut- 
ing a " coffee-pot on their tables — and water- 
pot." 



CHAPTER IX. 



Congress at Concord Adjourns — Dorothy Quincy 
Leaves for Lexington — Letter of Helene Bay- 
ard — John Hancock and Samuel Adams in 
Danger. 



In April, 1775, the Provincial Congress, at 
Concord, Mass., adjourned after it had assumed 
and exercised all legislative power. Gage pro- 
nounced, by proclamation, " that it was an unlaw- 
ful assembly, tending utterly to subvert govern- 
ment and to lead directly to sedition, treason and 
rebellion." 1 

The outlook was ominous and threatening. 

John Hancock, his heart-strings torn by two 
strong, conflicting sensations — love for his coun- 
try and love for his fiancee, whose situation he 
thought perilous — was finally inspired to seek the 
interposition of his Aunt Hancock, that the sepa- 
ration enforced by duty should be terminated. 

Boston was in that disturbed, unsettled condi- 
tion that Judge Quincy, who had been exercising 
constant surveillance over his affairs, was pre- 
pared to leave for Lancaster on the shortest no- 
tice. Apprehension and disorganization reigned 
in most households, and manv families had moved 



DOROTHY QUINCY 59 

their effects out of the city. There was no more 
" stepping over the way to take a pipe " with 
Justice Quincy for Mr. John Adams. Those so- 
cial talks had ended. 

Mrs. Lydia Hancock acted at once, and, like a 
guardian angel, proposed to Judge Quincy to 
take charge of his daughter Dorothy. Persuaded 
by her argument he gave his consent, and soon 
after there rolled up to the door the Hancock 
stately coach. 

Dorothy, with a girl's light-heartedness, bade 
a fond good-bye to her father with no thought 
of what an eventful separation this would prove. 
Regardless of toilet she gathered but a few 
things necessary for the short, hurried trip, leav- 
ing the fine clothes, which were collected after her 
departure and forwarded to her — a strange, un- 
feminine oversight. 

Aunt Lydia and Dorothy arrived in safety at 
the old Hancock homestead, Lexington, Mass., 
the residence of the Rev. Jonas Clark, who was 
a relative as well as successor in the church of 
the Rev. John Hancock. Here they received a 
warm welcome, and felt in comparative security, 
though rumors had been rife that Gage intended 
to seize Adams and Hancock. Gage had written 
in January to Lord Dartmouth of the necessity 
to secure these leaders, and it was said the orders 
came in February. 



00 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Dorothy Quincy's cousin, Helena Bayard, who 
had remained in Boston, sent lively records of 
what was passing to the absent one. In a letter 
dated April 14, 1775, she writes : 

" Your sudden departure gave me great uneasiness, 
and, when I saw the furniture carried from the house 
and family leaving it, it appeared to me as though you 
were all dead. It is an old saying, but a very true one— 
we don't know the love we have for our friends till we 
are deprived of them. Believe me. the tears fall while I 
am writing you. I cannot allow myself to think the 
family is broken up — gone, yet we must know it is for 
the best. I have taken my leave of Queen street, as 
what I hold dear to me is gone." 

Mrs. Bayard had made a visit to Dorothy's 
" Sister Quincy," on her return to the house 
where she boarded finds the parlor full, so seats 
herself in the only vacant chair, and is asked if 
she had heard the news. She writes: 

" I replied I had not. I was then told Linsee was 
coming and ten thousand troops, which was glorious 
news for the Congress. Mr. Hancock was next brought 
upon the carpet, and. as the company did not suspect 

1 had the least acquaintance with Mr. Hancock, I can't 
think they meant to affront me. 

However, as Mr. Hancock has an elegant house, 
and well situated, and this always will be a garrison 
town, it will do exceedingly well for a fort.' . . . ' I 
wonder how Miss will stand affected. I think he de- 
fers marrying till he returns from England.' At this 
speech I saw a wink given, and all was hush — myself 
as hush as the grave for reasons. ' Mr. Hancock has 
a number of horses. Perhaps he would be glad to dis- 
pose of them, as the officers are buying up the best 
horses in the town.' ' Mrs. Bayard, don't look so dull ! 
You will be taken the greatest care of.' Thought I — 
if you knew my heart you would have the most reason 
to look dull. However, a little time will decide that. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 61 

" I am, you will say, wicked ; but I wish the small- 
pox wouid spread. 

" Dolly, I could swell my letter into a balloon ; but, 
least I should tire you, I will beg my sincere regards 
to Mr. Hancock, and beg the favor of a line from dear 
Dolly. Your affectionate Coz., 

"Helena Bayard. "- 

This conveys an idea of the state of feeling in 
Boston, and the unbounded confidence of the 
English in their ultimate success. Colonel Grant 
had declared in the House of Commons, February 
2, 1775, " that he had served in America, and 
knew the Americans well ; was certain they 
would never fight— they would never dare to face 
an English army !" 

Samuel Adams, Hancock's friend and fellow- 
worker, was also domiciled at the Rev. Joan 
Clark's. It was circulated that the British in- 
tended to destroy large quantities of stores at 
Concord, Mass., but it was universally believed 
that Gage also intended to arrest both Adams and 
Hancock. 

John Adams, writing on this subject, says : 
" Blunder-heads as were the British ministry, 
they had sagacity enough to discriminate from 
all others, for inexorable vengeance, the two men 
most to be dreaded by them — Samuel Adams and 
John Hancock. Had not James Otis been dead, 
or worse than dead,* his name would have been at 
the head of the triumvirate." 3 



♦Otis' mind was affected. 



62 DOROTHY QUINCY 

If the military could secure the stores at Con- 
cord, and capture the two leaders, what a victory 
for them to thus stop the rebellion in its incip- 
iency ! 

Adams, with his record, and Hancock, the un- 
tiring champion and worker, would have been 
important captures for King George's troops. 
Hancock, who had attacked the Stamp Act, the 
port blockade, the tea tax and the massacre ! 
What a cry it would have roused from his large 
following ! And how had he won them? By no 
promises of office, nor of power, nor of emolu- 
ments — but by his honesty of purpose and con- 
tinued efforts to lighten their hardships. The 
man who is conscientious, and sincerely believes 
and feels what he advocates, usually carries con- 
viction to his hearers. 



CHAPTER X. 

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride — The Lexington 
Fight — Letter of an English Soldier — Dor- 
othy Quincy Tells of the Wounded — Hancock 
and Adams Withdraw to Safety — The Lovers 
Quarrel. 

The little village of Lexington, resting peace- 
fully far from all city turmoil, was soon to re- 
sound with the first tocsin of war, the roll of the 
drum and the rattle of musketry. It was to be 
the inauguration of the Revolution. No illusions 
— but the stern realities of combat were to be 
faced. 

Elbridge Gerry had early sent off an express 
to John Hancock to warn him of his danger. 
Gerry writes : 

" Mr. Hancock's answer bears mark of the 
haste with which it was written, while it discovers 
that habitual politeness on the part of the writer 
which neither haste nor danger could impair." 1 

This first alarm subsided. But on the 18th of 
April General Gage ordered a force to march on 
Concord. Dr. Warren despatched Paul Revere 
to awaken the country. 

In hot haste dashed the unwearied steed, stirred 
to frenzy by spur and whip, stimulated by a con- 



64 DOROTHY QUINCY 

tinuous shout from its intrepid rider — rousing 
every hamlet, thrilling- with terror the hearts of 
timid women and children, but firing the war 
spirit of the men with his cry — " The regulars are 
coming !" 

* >n clattered horse and rider, scattering stones 
and dirt as the hoofs tore into the ground, cover- 
ing the flanks of his steed with foam, until they 
brought up, near midnight, at the Rev. Mr. 
Clark's, and " found the house guarded by eight 
men, under Sergeant Munro, who cautioned him 
not to make a noise." 

" Noise !" said Revere. " You'll have noise 
enough before long. The regulars are coming 
out !" 

Hancock hearing Revere's voice and, recog- 
nizing it, opened a window and said, " Courier 
Revere, we are not afraid of you !" 

Revere replied with his startling news. 

" Ring the bell !" exclaimed Hancock. 

The bell began its peal, and rang all night. 

Before daylight one hundred and fifty men had 
mustered for defense. Confident in the fitness 
of resistance, it lent mettle to their nerve and 
strength to their arms. 

Hancock cleaned his gun and sword, put his 
accoutrements in order, determined to go out 
and fight with the men assembling, who were in 
most miserable order, but with hearts full of reso- 
lution and eager for the fray. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 65 

Adams clapped Hancock on the shoulder and 
said to him, '* That is not our business ; we be- 
long to the cabinet." 

But it was only by the most convincing pleas 
that he was persuaded to abandon his design ; 
for the security of both Adams and Hancock was 
of essential importance to the interests of the col- 
ony and to the great cause of freedom. 

An English officer, forerunner of the army, had 
been inquiring for Clark's, which confirmed the 
rumor that they were seeking the patriots. 2 

After Revere had left Clark's he and two 
others were captured by some British officers. He 
replied evasively to their questions as to where 
Adams and Hancock were located, and at last 
said firmly, " Gentlemen, you have missed your 
aim ;" and, hearing a distant bell, continued, 
" The bell's ringing — the town's alarmed. You 
are all dead men !" This roused the fears of the 
officers, who retained their prisoners until about 
one hundred rods of the meeting-house, when 
they took possession of Revere's horse, and, cut- 
ting the girths of the saddles and bridles of the 
others, rode off at full speed toward Boston to 
meet their advancing comrades. 

Revere returned to Clark's and reported his 
adventure. Hancock and Adams, at daylight, 
moved by the earnest remonstrance of their 
friends, were induced to withdraw to a thickly- 
wooded hill, in order to be near the earliest intel- 



66 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

ligence. Finally it was deemed more expedient 
that they should retire to the distant house of the 
Rev. Mr. Marrett, in Burlington, now Woburn. 
Mrs. Hancock and Dorothy were allowed to re- 
main, as it was considered perfectly safe. Thus 
it happened that they were in the opening combat 
of the Revolution. 

Seven hundred British soldiers arrived at Lex- 
ington, and the officers summarily commanded 
the motley group opposing them to lay down 
their arms and to disperse. 

" Not a man obeyed," says the historian. " Nor 
did they at the final order, "Damn you, disperse!" 
Then was poured into the minute-men a fatal 
volley from valiant British regulars. 

In an intercepted letter of one of these English 
soldiers, dated April 28, 1775, he writes : 

" We were fired on by country people, who are 
not brought up in our military way. . . . 
The people are very numerous, and full as bad 
as the Indians for scalping and cutting the dead 
men's cars and noses off."' 1 

Mrs. Lydia Hancock, who had descended to 
the door, was gazing around to learn news of the 
hostilities when a British bullet whizzed by her 
head and struck the barn. 

" What is that?" she exclaimed. 

They told her, giving a warning to take care of 
herself. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 67 

Dorothy, who, with a woman's curiosity, had 
stretched her pretty head out of the window, was 
startled at the first results of the conflict, and, in 
her narration of it, said : 

" Two men were being brought into the house. 
One, whose head had been grazed by a ball, in- 
sisted that he was dead ; but the other, who was 
shot in the arm, behaved better." 

After the troops had passed on toward Con- 
cord Mrs. Hancock and Dorothy received a let- 
ter from Hancock stating where he and Adams 
were domiciled, advising them to leave in the car- 
riage and bring the fine salmon that was to have 
been served at dinner. 

Without delay they followed these directions, 
and congratulated themselves when again united 
in safety. The salmon was cooked, but there 
was only time to feast the eye and not the palate, 
when a man rushed wildly in, having left his wife 
and family at home, exclaiming : 

" The British are coming ! The British are 
coming ! My wife's in etarnity now." 

As soon as the alarm from this electrifying an- 
nouncement had subsided Mr. Marrett piloted 
Hancock and Adams, by a cartway, to Amos 
Wyman's house, in Billerica, where they ate with 
a relish their dinner of cold salt pork and pota- 
toes from a wooden tray. 4 

Dorothy Quincy and her lover, before their 
separation, had a lively skirmish of words. It is 



08 HOROTHY QUINCY 

a natural conclusion that the nerves of this young' 
lady had received a severe shock, and were much 
unstrung- by the unforeseen and bewildering 
events participated in, for she declared emphatic- 
ally that, having left her father in Boston, she in- 
tended to return to him the next day. 

Imagine Mr. John Hancock's state of mind at 
this decision — with the roads still prowled by 
British "red-coats?" 

" No, madam," said Hancock, " you shall not 
return as long as there is a British bayonet left 
in Boston !""' 

.It was the fair Dorothy's turn to be astounded 
at this premature display of authority on the part 
of her lover, though actuated by the tenderest and 
best of motives. 

With the spirit of a true woman she replied : 

" Recollect, Mr. Hancock, I am not under your 
authority yet. I shall go to my father's tomor- 
row !" 

When relating it, years later, she frankly ac- 
knowledged that this mandate from Hancock 
momentarily produced a revulsion of feeling. 

But Aunt Lvdia intervened, and, with gentle 
conciliation, smoothed the temporary friction and 
ruffled feelings, restoring the harmony of peace. 
Yet it was many, many months before Dorothy 
Ouincy returned to Boston. 

A woman's mind and a woman's heart, with 
their mobile vibrations, have at all times been 



DOROTHY QUINCY 69 

enigmas to solve. But the strong under-current 
of Dorothy Quincy's character is betrayed when, 
led by affection and patriotism, she followed her 
lover to Mr. Marrett's and was willing to stake 
her fate with the man whom Great Britain was 
seeking to hang. 

The rancor entertained toward the two patriots 
is summed up in the Tory ballad : 

" As for their King, that John Hancock, 
And Adams, if they're taken; 
Their heads for signs shall hang up high 
Upon the hill called Beacon !" 



CHAPTER XI. 

Minute Men — Boston a Camp — Gage's Proclama- 
tion — How It Was Received — Delegates en 
Route to Philadelphia — Hancock and Adams 
Meet the Governor and Council of Connecti- 
cut — The Quincys Scattered. 

After the " Lexington-Concord " attack the 
" minute-men " were regularly organized in every 
town, 1 and stood ready at the first summons to 
defend their country. Freedom planted on their 
banner and implanted in their hearts — freedom 
from wrong and injustice— the valiant " minute- 
men !" 

There were then no paid substitutes nor regu- 
lar soldiers supported by government, and enjoy- 
ing hours of ease and leisure ; but in the ranks 
stood, as during the Civil War of 1861 and the 
Spanish War of 1898, some of the best blood of 
the country. 

These men left the land untilled and their 
various avocations in order to defend their fire- 
sides and the rights they claimed. They parted 
from wife, mother and children ; for did it not 
mean the safety of those dear ones? They rushed, 
with old guns, undaunted, undisciplined, into 
danger to meet soldiers brought up in the tactics 



DOROTHY QUINCY 71 

of war, well drilled, well armed, with experienced 
officers. 

Has enough credit been given to the unselfish, 
heroic "minute-men?" What to them was the 
want of artillery — the want of a treasury ! Their 
souls were in the cause to resist all encroachments 
and, with stout courage, to endure whatever 
might befall them. 

This indomitable spirit of the colonists was 
predicted, as is seen from an anecdote in the 
Pennsylvania Gazette of 1775: 

" In London, last Tuesday, some unlucky but 
genteel youths went to one of the temporary 
cook-shops in Covent Garden, and one of them 
said to his companion, " I'll show you how the 
Americans intend to serve BOSTON. You 
must suppose that pan over the charcoal fire to 
be the town, and the Sausages in it to be Gen- 
eral Gage and the King's Troops ; and then 
(says he) they will be served thus : When he 
threw a paper, with some gunpowder in it, under 
the pan, which immediately blew the sausages, 
etc., into the air. There (cries he) now you may 
see where Boston is, and also how the Americans 
will learn General Gage and his soldiers to fly 
without wings.' He then gave the woman a 
guinea for the loss of her goods, who was 
very well satisfied about the matter." 2 

But before this transpired Boston experienced 
some of the cruelty of war, and was the first city 
to be ground under the heel of the British. 



7 2 DOROTHY QUINCY 

What a transition for this cleanly town, with 
its church-going community, to be revolutionized 

into a dirty, diseased, military camp ! 

General Gage allowed those who desired to 
leave for the country, but they were not permitted 
to retain firearms or ammunition : these they 
were obliged to deliver to the selectmen. This 
was generally complied with. He also forbade 
merchandise being taken out of the city ; then 
all provisions and medicine. And after May 2ISt 
the guards even took from the poorer people a 
single loaf of bread and half a pound of choco- 
late. Finally " all communication between Bos- 
ton and the country was cut oh. and no one was 
permitted to go in or out without a pass." 

In June General Gage promulgated his famous 
proclamation. " offering a pardon to all who 
would proselyte themselves to the royal author- 
ity, excepting- 1 [ancock and Adams."' They 
were proscribed by King George, whose first 
order was that they he sen: over to England for 
trial : the second directed that they he hanged 
in Boston." 

The proscription was ridiculed in Massachu- 
setts and put into verse. The Gazette of June 24. 
775, has this stanza from one of their odes : 

" But I must out of this plan lock 
Both Samuel Adams and John Hancock : 
For those vile traitors ijike bedentures) 
Must be tucked up at all adventures. 
As any proffer of a pardon 
Would only tend these rogues to harden." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 73 

The proscription of George III, says an author 
writing of Hancock, is a " mausoleum to thy 
memory which will survive a ponderous monu- 
ment of marble." And a gentleman of Philadel- 
phia wrote to a member of the British Parlia- 
ment : 

" There cannot be a greater error than to sup- 
pose that the present commotions in America are 
owing to the acts of demagogues. Every man 
thinks and acts for himself. . . . It is to no 
purpose to attempt to destroy the opposition to 
the omnipotence of Parliament by taking off our 
Hancock, Adamses, Dickinsons. Ten thousand 
patriots of the same stamp stand ready to fill their 
places." 4 

We left John Hancock and Samuel Adams 
making their way resolutely, but with caution, 
toward Worcester, there to join, April 24, other 
delegates enroute to the Continental Congress at 
Philadelphia. Adams and Hancock met the 
Governor and Council of Connecticut, when they 
planned the taking of Ticonderoga :' and a party 
of volunteers, commanded by Ethan Allen, 
started with that purpose and succeeded in cap- 
turing it May 10, 1775." 

From Worcester, April 24th, Hancock wrote 
privately to the Committee of Safety in Boston — 
" Are our men in spirits? For God's sake do not 
suffer the spirit to subside until they have per- 
fected the reduction of our enemies. Boston 



74 DOROTHY QUINCY 

must be entered ; the troops must be sent away. 
Our friends are valuable, but our country must 
be saved !" 6 

Saturday, April 29, Judge Edmund Quincy had 
left Boston for Lancaster, about seventy miles 
distant. Traveling was most uncomfortable and 
cheerless. He was until Friday evening reach- 
ing the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Greenleaf, 
having sent the two negroes in advance. 

" Carriages were scarce," he writes to his son 
Henry, and " it cost me near twenty pounds, be- 
sides quartering on some of my good friends, 
who were very kind and generous. Your sister 
Dolly, with Mr. Hancock, came from Shirley to 
your brother Greenleaf s and dined, and pro- 
ceeded to Worcester, where Colonel Hancock 
and Mr. Adams were on their way. This was ten 
days before I got hither, so that I missed seeing 
them. As I hear she proceeded with .Mrs. Han- 
cock to Fairfield, f don't expect to see her till 
peaceable times are restored." 7 

He wrote to his son Edmund, May 19, 1775. 
in an incensed and disgusted state of mind be- 
cause the colonists were represented " as a lazy, 
ignorant, poltroon, low kind of people : there- 
fore, incapable of defending themselves or their 
country." 



CHAPTER XII. 

Dorothy Quincy at Fairfield — Hancock's Letter 
to Dorothy — Enthusiasm for John Hancock — 
Elected President of the Continental Con- 
gress — Contemporaries' Opinion of Him. 

Airs. Hancock and Dorothy were installed at 
Fairfield, *' a beautiful town, cultivated and pros- 
perous," for an indefinite period at the house of a 
very intimate friend, Thaddeus Burr, who was a 
leading- citizen of the place. 

" I [is fine colonial mansion was a prominent 
object in the centre of the village. Here he dis- 
pensed sumptuous hospitality. In i"//(-) the Brit- 
ish burnt this house, with its valuable contents, 
as well as nearly all the principal buildings, pub- 
lic and private. When Burr rebuilt, after the 
war. Governor Hancock presented him with the 
n< cessary lumber and glass."' 

By the first of May the delegates readied New 
York, and there are lengthy accounts in the jour- 
nals of their reception ; the people's approving 
demonstrations on Hancock's course, and disap- 
proval oi Gage's proclamation. 

Hancock wrote from New York to his fiancee. 
giving the details of their reception in that city, 



76 DOROTHY QUINCY 

where his carriage was given precedence of all 
others. The procession formed at King's Bridge, 
and when within three miles of the town they were 
met by the Grenadier Company and regiment of 
the City Militia under arms ; gentlemen in car- 
riages, on horseback, and many thousand persons 
on foot; the roads filled with people. 

To quote from the letter, " When within a mile 
of the city my carriage was stopped and, persons 
appearing with proper harness, insisted upon tak- 
ing out my horses and dragging me into and 
through the city — a circumstance I would not 
have had taken place upon any consideration. I 
begged and entreated that they would suspend 
the design, and asked it as a favor. The matter 
subsided, but when I got to the entrance of the 
city, and the number of spectators increased to 
perhaps seven thousand or more, they declared 
they would have the horses out and drag me 
themselves through the city." 

Hancock had finally to apply to the leading 
gentlemen in the procession before he could suc- 
ceed in arresting these demonstrations. 

He closes his letter : 



" I beg you will write me. Do acquaint me with 
every circumstance relative to the dear aunt of mine. 
Write lengthy and often. . . . Pray let me hear 
from you by every post. God bless you, my dear girl, 
and believe me, most sincerely, 

" Yours most affectionately, 

" John Hancock." 2 



DOROTHY QUINCY 77 

The fair Dorothy, though evidently endowed 
with depth of feeling - , did not permit it to flow 
into love effusions, or she may have been one of 
those fluent conversationalists who are not 
equally ready as writers. Her letters occur rarely, 
and Hancock utters frequent plaints at this si- 
lence. The heart, however, must have throbbed 
with pleasure as she read the ovation to her hero 
lover. 

An account in the Pennsylvania Evening Post 
gives the progress of the delegates : " The roads 
were lined with greater numbers of people than 
were ever known on any occasion before. Their 
arrival was announced by the ringing of bells and 
other demonstrations of joy. They had double 
sentries placed at the doors of their lodgings 
while in New York. Every precaution taken that 
the British should not carry out their threat on 
the two patriots." 

" They left New York with John Adams, Rob- 
ert Treat Paine, Thomas Cushing and other dele- 
gates for the City of Philadelphia, a large guard 
attending them across the water to protect them 
from an attack — two hundred and three sloops 
and a number of other vessels ; and, it is said, 
about five hundred gentlemen crossed the ferry 
with them, among whom were two hundred mil- 
itia under arms." 

Another letter details the attentions paid them, 
and says, "They will not reach your city (Phila- 



-8 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

delphia) until Wednesday morning, when you can 
be in readiness to pay them the same honors they 
have received here." 3 

" Every town they passed through they were 
received by the military, and at Philadelphia a 
large concourse met them ; the bells were set 
ringing on their entrance, and every mark of re- 
spect that could be was expressed." 4 

On the 9th of May they arrived, and the Conti- 
nental Congress met on the 10th. 

Peyton Randolph, who resigned the Presi- 
dency, had returned home and left the seat va- 
cant. 

On the lgih of May Benjamin Harrison, of Vir- 
ginia, with Southern warmth and fervency, threw 
his arms around John Hancock and placed him 
in the vacant Presidential chair, exclaiming, "We 
will show Mother Britain how little we care f oi- 
lier by making a Massachusetts man our Presi- 
dent, whom she has excluded from pardon and 
offered a reward for his head !" 

Winthrop says, " Was there ever a more signal 
distinction vouchsafed to mortal man? Not yet 
forty years of age. with a princely fortune at stake, 
and with a price upon his head, sitting there in all 
the calm composure and dignity which so pecu- 
liarly characterized him, and which nothing 
seemed able to relax or ruffle." 

It has been said, " He felt deeply embarrassed 
when the unanimous election was declared, but 



DOROTHY QUINCY 79 

recovered his wonted self-possession after being" 
seated in the chair. "' 

Tudor says of him in his Life of James (. His. 
'* John Hancock was thoroughly conversant with 
the forms of business in a public body. As Presi- 
dent, Moderator, or Speaker of an Assembly, 
whether town meeting or a house of representa- 
tives, he was not surpassed by any person of his 
time. He was attentive, impartial, dignified and 
in these situations inspired respect and confidence 
wherever he presided — his feelings and principles 
those of a patriot, his morality and benevolence 
those of a sincere professor of Christianity." 

Another writer says that " Hancock's popular- 
it)' extended throughout the United colonies." 
And these are but a few of the many commenda- 
tory notices of him. 

A resume of John Hancock's career, from his 
start in life, was necessary ; and we have now 
followed Dorothy Quincy's future husband up to 
the highest office — President of the Congress. 
Nor does it appear that her heart or her judgment 
had erred in this choice. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Life at Fairfield — Letter from Hancock — Dis- 
tress in Boston — Hancock Wishes to Serve 
Under Washington — George Washington's Re- 
ply — John Hancock's Letters to Dorothy — 
Judge Quincy's Views — Samuel Paine on Bos- 
ton — Arrival of Howe — Washington Appoint- 
ed Commander-in-Chief. 

Dorothy Quincy continued at Fairfield, charm- 
ing the townspeople by her beauty and gracious- 
ness, yet with a touch of stateliness that was in- 
herent in her; and she was the ornament of Mr. 
Burr's entertainments. 

Dorothy Quincy, who realized the mind was 
given to her for practice, at times indulged in stu- 
dious thought ; but she also used her winning 
smile to decorate playful or trivial talk, to which 
women lend such a charm with their lively imag- 
ination. 

It was not the age when time hung heavy be- 
cause of " nothing to do." Dorothy whiled away 
hours with those occupations that were the fash- 
ion of the day. Then came " letters which shorten 
absence." Every fortnight the coach brought 
her a packet of them from Hancock, who was 
indefatigable with his pen-worship ; and, though 



DOROTHY QUINCY 81 

we bewail Dorothy Ouincy's discretion in re- 
pressing an inky effervescence over the blank 
pages, yet it has spared her missives from curious 
eyes, to peruse with praise or censure. 

In a letter of Hancock's, June 10, 1775, he 
writes : " I am almost prevailed on to think that 
my letters to my aunt and you are not read, for 
I cannot obtain a reply. I have asked a million 
questions and not an answer to one. ... I 
really take it extremely unkind. Pray, my dear, 
use not so much ceremony and reservedness. 
Why can't yon use freedom in writing? Be not 
afraid of me. 1 want long letters. ... I 
beg, my dear Dolly, you will write me often and 
long letters. I will forgive the past if you will 
mend in future. Do ask my aunt to make me 
up and send me a watch-string, and do you make 
up another? I want something of your doing." 

He sends her a box containing a variety of 
articles, and says, " which I do insist you wear. 
If you do not I shall think the donor is the ob- 
jection. ... I wish these may please you ; 
I shall be gratified if they do. Pray write me ; I 
will attend to all your commands." 1 

Private letters from Boston, the home of Dor- 
othy Quincy, continued to report the greatest suf- 
fering among the inhabitants. This extract por- 
trays some of their distress : 

" No word can describe the dreadful scene of 
misery of that unhappy town. The shrieks of 



82 DOROTHY QUINCY 

the women, the cries of the children, the dying- 
groans of the wounded and want of provisions 
would extort a tear from even the eye of a hero." 2 

No one dared restrain the soldiers, who " rose 
in the meeting-houses and preached queer, mock- 
ing sermons against the rebellious Puritans." 

The tendency to doggerel at this time was so 
universal one is tempted to give an occasional 
verse : 

" Yankee Doodle came to town 
For to buy a firelock ; 
We will tar and feather him. 
And so we will John Hancock." 8 

There was a strong feeling in favor of a deter- 
mined stand " in all the colonies, and men of 
wealth and influence joined in protesting against 
the usurpations of the mother country," " but they 
were also averse to a decided rupture." 4 

As this is a life of Dorothy Quincy, and the 
part that her husband took in events, I regret that 
I cannot digress into the history of other colonies, 
where men stood forth in their patriotic work as 
prominent as those in New England. 

Another year passed, and in 1775 there was a 
reversal of opinion. John Hancock, who never 
wavered, had under the stimulus of continued en- 
thusiasm, and from regard for George Washing- 
ton, written to him, July 10 : 

" I must beg the favor that you will reserve 
some berth for me in such department as you 



DOROTHY QUINCY 83 

may judge most proper, for I am determined to 
act under you if it be to take the firelock and join 
the ranks as volunteer." 5 

This does not bear out the insinuation that he 
was jealous of Washington, as has been intimated 
by one of the delegates. 

In Washington's reply he says, " I am partic- 
ular to acknowledge that part of your favor of the 
10th instant wherein you do me the honor of de- 
termining to join the army under my command. 
I need certainly make no professions of the pleas- 
ure I shall have in seeing you. At the same time 
have to regret that so little is in my power to 
offer equal to Colonel Hancock's merits and 
worthy of his acceptance." 

But the health of Colonel Hancock would have 
debarred him from serving long in the field. 

Men were aroused in all ranks of life, and Gen- 
eral Gage was astonished to witness the spread of 
the Union sentiment ; also the solicitude in behalf 
of Massachusetts. In one of his letters he writes, 
" They have warm friends in New York, Philadel- 
phia ; and, that the people of Charleston. S. C, 
are as mad as they are here." 6 

Hancock's letters, full of affection, pour out 
to the absent one, his " dear Dolly," urging her 
to write, and he says, " Had I my aunt and yon 
with me I should be much happier, and wish 
much to be with you both ; the where is imma- 
terial. . . . Adieu, my dear girl ; you are 



84 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

ever in my thoughts, and the contemplation of 
you gives me much pleasure. I am, affection- 
ately yours always, John Hancock." 7 

The above letter was written "Sabbath even- 
ing, July 2d." On the nth he despatches an- 
other, "Sabbath morning early'' : 

" My Dear Dolly : — I am obliged to work all 
day. I have been busy all the morning writing 
and preparing for expresses. Having finished, I 
must write you one line, tho' my letters are so lit- 
tle noticed ; but T will do my duty. 1 wrote you 
yesterday by Doctor Church, when I sent you a 
few little things in a paper box, which I wish may 
suit you and be acceptable. T wish I could see 
them on the person, but hope they will not be 
quite worn-out before I do see her, tho' I can't say 
how long it will be before we rise. 

" I must insist you immediately wear all the 
articles ; if not, please to send them back. . . . 
I steal time to write. Pray write me often ; write 
a volume. I love your long letters. . . . God 
bless you, my dear Dolly, and believe me to be, 
with great truth, yours most affectionately, John 
Hancock." 

The British Administration's full weight of 
power was hurled against Massachusetts, and ex- 
pected, "by crushing the spirit of Boston, to 
crush the disobedience in the colonies." An 
alarming condition continued ; and, about a 
month after the Battle of Bunker Hill, John Han- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 85 

cock, President, appointed "July 20, 1775. as a 
day of public humiliation, fasting and prayer, to 
all the English colonies on the continent.'" 

July 22d, 1775, Judge Quincy wrote from Lan- 
caster to his " dear daughter Dolly," expressing 
regrets at Hancock's gout. He says, " And es- 
pecially that he is in want of your spectacles, if 
I understand you right. I wish I had such as 
would suit him ; but, by one means or other, I'm 
reduced to a single pair of temple ' specs,' and 
one pair of bows, that I'm very sure can suit him 
in no respect, and here am void of all supply. I 
pray his health may be continued, as his present 
station calls for so great an exertion of every 
mental power, as well as bodily." 

He prophesies thus in regard to the country : 
" It seems to me not improbable that the pres- 
ent Grand Council of American Safety, convened 
in the City of Philadelphia, may have the lasting 
honor of being recorded in the present and future 
annals of the American and European world as 
the remarkable instrument, in the hands of the 
All-wise Governor of the Universe, not only of 
confirming and establishing the liberty of Amer- 
ica and Britain, but likewise of flashing such pal- 
pable light upon the subjects of other kingdoms 
and states of Europe as gradually, in conjunction 
with other means, may become irresistible, under 
the direction of Heaven, in breaking ye bonds 
and bursting ye cords asunder by which those 



86 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

people have been so long held of their despotic 
and tyrannical masters. Their cries, I doubt not, 
have long since reached the throne of the King 
of kings and Lord of lords, to Whom we are told 
vengeance belongs, and He will not tarry." 

Judge Quincy was, as we see, a firm believer 
that an All-wise Father was directing the course 
of events through His children here on earth. 
His letters breathe a profound religious fervor, 
and are replete with the Christian faith and hope 
that guides the lives of all true believers. 

This it was that probably sustained him under 
the many trying, anxious months of danger pend- 
ing — a home broken up, his children scattered, 
his property at the mercy of reckless soldiery — 
while he was forced to remain absent from Bos- 
ton, not knowing if he could ever again enter tin- 
town. 

Samuel Paine, writing to his brother in Eng- 
land, October, 1775, succinctly utters this judg- 
ment on ill-fated Boston : " This town is almost 
deserted by its ancient inhabitants, and the peo- 
ple of Boston, like the Jews, are scattered over 
the face of the earth ! Just punishment of God." 7 

At last General Gage, either from his reverses 
or other causes, was to be replaced by Howe, 
and in August his wife and family left for Eng- 
land, besides a number of others who had en- 
dured as long as they could the discomforts of a 
garrisoned city. And there were then few to be 



DOROTHY QUINCY 87 

found agreeing with one of the delegates to the 
Congress, who declared that " war, like other 
evils, is often wholesome. The waters that stag- 
nate corrupt." 8 

1 The change to Howe could not have been con- 
sidered by the inhabitants of that unfortunate 
town as an improvement to their condition, for a 
gentleman, who left there at that time, reported, 
" That, by order of General Howe, they have 
taken down the pulpit and all the pews in the 
Old South Meeting-House, and are using it for a 
riding school. Thus we see the house once set 
apart for the true worship and service of God 
turned into a den of thieves. They burned the 
pews and pulpit ; and loads of dirt and gravel 
were carted in and spread on the floor." 9 

Hancock at this time made a passing visit to 
the family of Washington. In a letter to El- 
bridge Gerry, June 18, 1775, he says : 

" I cannot tell you of the doings of Congress in 
general, but I am thus far indulged to mention, 
but by no means to be put in the newspapers at 
present — Colonel Washington is appointed Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. I 
shall sign his commission tomorrow. He will 
depart in a few days ; you will judge of the pro- 
priety of the mode of his reception. He is a fine 
man." 10 

A London letter, in one of the journals, July 
20th, states that in Boston, June 16th, four days 



88 DOROTHY QUINCY 

after Gage had issued his proclamation, the 
flight of Hancock and Adams had been advised 
" to some islands, and up the country." This 
conveys to us the slow pace of news in the olden 
days ; for, instead of flight into the solitude of 
retired islands to elude British soldiers, Hancock 
and Adams were in security, successfully devis- 
ing tactics to drive their foes out of the country. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Hancock's Namesakes — Aaron Burr — Wedding of 
Dorothy Quincy — John Sewell's Opinion — No- 
tices of the Event — They Leave for Philadel- 
phia — Dorothy Meets With Relatives — Dor- 
othy in Her New Position — John Adams 
Writes of Her — New Duties for Dorothy 
Quincy — Mrs. Hancock at Marshalls. 

Dorothy Quincy was still domiciled at Fair- 
field, Mr. Burr nor Aunt Lydia being willing- to 
part from this radiance in their household. 

Judge Quincy, in his letter to his daughter, 
July 22d, 1775, writes the amusing item that 
Mrs. Rice had twins, and " they were named 
John Hancock and Dorothy Quincy." He went 
to see them, and gives his impression, *" I think 
them a couple of fine children, considered as 
twins." 1 

The next month John Hancock was recipient 
of another of these honors. One of the journal- 
ists writes : 

" We hear from Cecil county, in the Province 
of Maryland, that Mr. Elihu Hall, Jr., a young 
gentleman of family, fortune and character in 
said county, last Sabbath had his first-born son 
baptized John Hancock, as well to express his 



90 DOROTHY QUINCY 

esteem of the New England bravery in general 
as in particular honor of the great American 
PATRIOT of that name, who now, under God, 
presides in the honorable Continental Congress." 2 

There was now introduced into the house of 
Thaddeus Burr that gallant individual — his 
young nephew. Aaron Burr, who is represented 
as a fascinating youth. What a change did this 
create in the daily round of amusements in Dor- 
othy Quincy's life ! 

Aunt Lydia, her mind full of oft-told dangers 
from propinquity, immediately took alarm. She 
apprehended delay, if not peril, to her cherished 
plans. 

Her solicitude was great, but she faced the sit- 
uation heroically, and had recourse to her 
woman's wit to debar the young people from a 
tete-a-tete. 

The homage of the newcomer was rather re- 
freshing to the young lady ; and they fell into 
animated conversation — not dangerous, but the 
experienced Aunt Lydia may have observed that 
a pair of bright eyes had awakened a growing- 
admiration in the host's nephew which escaped 
Miss Dorothy ; and it was probably through the 
aunt's influence that Mr. Aaron Burr's visit came 
to an abrupt termination. 

Dorothy, relating this to a friend, takes excep- 
tion to the surveillance that was exercised, having 
detected that Mrs. Hancock never allowed them 



DOROTHY QUINCY 9I 

a moment in each others society without a chap- 
eron. And concluded her account of him — " He 
was a handsome young- man. with a pretty prop- 
erty." 

Dorothy Quincy was to be exposed to no more 
diversions from the society of dashing nephews, 
as Aunt Lydia instituted final preparations for 
the great ceremony. 

John Hancock, who had not permitted the excit- 
ing times nor the new honors to supplant in his 
thoughts the graceful girl, who later developed 
into the elegant woman, eagerly cast aside the 
duties of state by the end of August and hastened 
to Connecticut to be married. 

Hope, which caressingly trolls many to the ful- 
fillment of their wishes, or the destruction of them, 
brought to John Hancock that good fortune which 
seems to have dominated his life. 

The New York Post gives a detailed account 
of the Burr mansion and the wedding in keeping 
with the host's liberality and the prominence of the 
parties. It is diffuse in particulars of the " blue 
blood " present and the great gathering of guests 
from the town and from afar, which added un- 
usual brilliancy to the scene. 

This wedding created, evidently, a social flurry : 
and unbounded interest was expressed throughout 
the northern colonies, the papers publishing no- 
tices of the event. 



92 DOROTHY QUINCY 

There was one man who could not regard it 
with any serenity, and that was the Tory, Judge 
Sewell, who, writing to his Cousin Robie, August 
12, 1775, advised him to send his wife back to 
Salem, or Marblehead, to be safe, and adds, " Be- 
sides, Mrs. Robie and Mrs. Higgenson would de- 
rive some advantage from certain connections 
which I cannot think of without indignation ! 
But, when it is to combat evil, ' 'Tis lawful to em- 
ploy the devil.' " 

John Hancock, evidently, is referred to under 
the head of his satanic majesty. 

The announcement from the Pennsylvania Ga- 
zette of September 6, 1775, is in quite another tone. 
Under date of August 29, Fairfield. " Last even- 
ing was married at the seat of Thaddeus Burr. 
Esq., by the Rev. Mr. Elliott, the Hon. John 
Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental 
Congress, to Miss Dorothy Quincy. daughter of 
Edmund Quincy, Esq., of Boston. Floras in- 
forms us that, ' in the second Punic war, when 
Hannibal besieged Rome, and was very near mak- 
ing himself Master of it, a field upon which part 
of his army lay was offered for sale, and was im- 
mediately purchased by a Roman, in a strong 
assurance that the Roman valour and courage 
would soon raise the siege.' Equal to the conduct 
of that illustrious citizen was the marriage of the 
Hon. John Hancock, Esq., who, with his amiable 
Lady, has paid as great a compliment to American 



DOROTHY QUINCY 93 

valour, and discovered equal patriotism, by marry- 
ing now, while all the colonies are as much con- 
vulsed as Rome when Hannibal was at her gates." 

Dorothy wrote to her father of their marriage, 
and that they had concluded not to pass through 
New York, as the " Aria " there had caused much 
mischief by firing upon the city. 

The newly-married pair left at once for Phila- 
delphia. A New York paper of September j 
states : 

" Saturday last the Hon. John Hancock and his 
Lady arrived here from Connecticut and imme- 
diately set out for Philadelphia." 

A notice from Philadelphia, September 6, notes 
that, " Yesterday arrived here the Hon. John 
Hancock. Esq., and lady, from Connecticut, and 
the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., and lady, from 
Virginia." 

This wedding was also chronicled in an Irish 
magazine, with a likeness of the " President of 
the Continental Congress " as frontispiece. After 
laudatory writing of Hancock, it continues, " that 
he hath lately married one of the most accom- 
plished ladies on the continent, who has brought 
him a great addition to his paternal fortune." 3 

John Hancock, who now had the fair Dorothy 
under his authorized protection from British sol- 
diery and engaging idlers, must have felt all the 
satisfaction that the situation afforded. Such sat- 
isfaction is very different from that experienced by 



94 DOROTHY QUINCY 

a man when his popular eloquence carries an au- 
dience by storm, or when he had done an act of 
kindly charity. This is to have won the woman 
he loves and made her part of his " goods and 
chattels," labeled with his name. 

Philadelphia, the colonial metropolis, as de- 
scribed at this time, had " graceful inequalities 
and a diversity of undulations that variegated the 
city," 4 with a population of eighteen thousand. 
The houses were well built, and an air of comfort 
pervaded them. The residents were aristocratic, 
and. as an historian writes, " money was no pass- 
port." 5 

There were the Tories and those of the inhabit- 
ants engaged in commerce that were averse to 
being disturbed by trouble with the mother coun- 
try ; also the Quakers, with their tenets against 
war, who composed a large body and exercised 
some influence in the city. Notwithstanding this 
element there was much elegant dressing. The 
dames built their hair as toweringly high as in 
any other part of the country, and their fine bro- 
cades were not surpassed by those of Mrs. Han- 
cock. Their tables groaned under delicate and 
varied viands of the best quality, while rich- 
bodied Madeira aided their digestion, reserving to 
itself the privilege of making inroads on the con- 
stitution. 

This was the home into which Mrs. Hancock 
was introduced, but she was not to find herself 



DOROTHY QUINCY 95 

an entire stranger in the quaint town. Among 
the Congressional delegates were connections and 
relatives of her own family — Livingstone, Mor- 
ris, Adams and Schuyler. 

She felt at ease with none of the constraint that 
comes from being new to a position ; she had met 
this class of men all her life, and was not awe-in- 
spired by them, it was somewhat trying to be 
placed, with her youth and beauty, in the midst 
of a hundred men likely to feed her vanity; but, 
fortunately, it developed only her careful training 
and ballast of good sense. 

In the town of Philadelphia, with its Quakers, 
who were not disposed to fetes or lavish, enter- 
tainments, and the Tories, who indulged in occa- 
sional balls, Mrs. Hancock saw presented a con- 
trast to the joyous circle at home. She must have 
missed the coterie of friends who had installed 
her as queen, and where she reigned with her 
gentle ascendancy ; missed the family reunions 
and relatives, who held her in fondest affection ; 
missed the society circle of acquaintances at the 
afternoon teas — for one cannot drop into a remote 
town, encircled by strangers, and feel the tender- 
ness of manner and gush of heart that old sur- 
roundings infuse. 

At first Mrs. Hancock was not much attracted 
to the " Friends," but, as their acquaintance pro- 
gressed, some warm friendships were formed, 
and fortunate were those who secured her friend- 



96 DOROTHY QUINCY 

ship. It was not the ephemeral fraternizing of 
the schoolgirl nor the politic one of the woman of 
the world, but she was a friend in the hour of 
need as well as in days of prosperity. 

Realizing her new dignities she bore her honors 
with praiseworthy punctiliousness, and conscien- 
tiously filled one of the most prominent positions 
in the country through the trying period of war- 
fare for independence. A markedly favorable im- 
pression had been created by the young bride on 
the large number of distinguished men there as- 
sembled. 

.Mrs. Adams, October 21, 1775, writing to her 
husband, presents her best regards to Mrs. Han- 
ruck, and hopes that she is "happy." So the 
felicitations had not ceased. 

John Adams, in a letter to his wife, writes, 
November 4, 1775 : " Two pair of colors belong- 
ing to the Seventh Regiment were brought here 
last night from Chambly and hung up in Mrs. 
Hancock's chamber with splendor and elegance. 
The lady sends her compliments and good wishes. 
Among a hundred men. almost, at this house she 
lives and behaves with modesty and decency, dig- 
nity and discretion, I assure you. Her behavior 
is easy and genteel. She avoids talking upon poli- 
tics. In large and mixed company she is unus- 
ually silent, as a lady ought to be." 

This is high praise from a man of Adams' dis- 
crimination, and marks the refined education of the 



DOROTHY QUINCY 97 

times, and Mrs. Hancock's possession of that nice 
perception which exercises appropriately the 
lauded " golden silence." 

John Hancock, in addition to the duties of Con- 
gress, which occupied many hours, was obliged to 
sign the commissions and war rents for the offi- 
cers, civil and military; to attend to an extensive 
political correspondence, and to promulgate all 
orders and regulations for supplying an army.''' 
Continuous labor, with the climate, affected his 
constitution ; but, as was said of him, " His mind 
rose superior to this misfortune in the discharge 
of his public duties." 7 Meanwhile his own affairs 
and those of others were left to drift in their 
course, which impolitic proceeding caused him 
much trouble in after years. 

This sensible young wife entered on the new 
life with zest and installed herself as assistant to 
her husband, finding pleasure in facilitating his 
drudgery as far as was possible. 

Her embroidery was laid aside in order to be- 
come a sedulous worker. She trimmed with her 
scissors the rough edges of the bills of credit is- 
sued by Congress and signed by the President : 
arranged them in saddle-bags, then despatched 
them to the various quarters for use of the Army. 
She also packed the commissions, which she for- 
warded. 8 making herself into a veritable help-mate. 
A writer tells us that " previously, all this business 



98 DOROTHY QUINCY 

of Congress had been done by the President and 
was very arduous, but later a clerk was secured." 9 

In their hours of relaxation Hancock and his 
wife visited together, and Mrs. Hancock is spoken 
of as the only lady present, one afternoon, at the 
house of " Ben Marshall." in a coterie of promi- 
nent men — " John Adams, Samuel Adams. 
Thomas dishing, Treat Paine, Dyer and John 
Langdon " — drinking coffee together. This at- 
tests Hancock's desire to have Mrs. Hancock 
always with him, and his appreciation of her 
bright mind, which was cultivated from observa- 
tion and tutored by the superior intellect of her 
father. 

Judge Quincy, knowing her desire to be in- 
formed on the important subjects of the day, in 
one of his letters refers her for " political news " 
to those he had written to — " Mr. Hancock and 
Dr. Y " 



CHAPTER XV. 

Proposed Ball to Lady Washington — Her Tact — 
Proposition to Bombard Boston — Hancock's 
" Memorable Letter " — His Unselfish Stand — 
Mrs. Hancock's Admiration for John Hancock. 

When a man starts upon a project to give pleas- 
ure he strenuously objects to being thwarted. 
Colonel Harrison, with a heart full of geniality 
and consideration for others, was desirous of en- 
tertaining the Philadelphians with an agreeable 
surprise, which, on the contrary, threw them into 
the wildest state of perturbation. 

He had matured elaborate preparations for a 
ball to be given November 24, 1775. to " Lady 
Washington," who was to pass through the city on 
her way to join her husband at Cambridge. And 
Hancock's wife was also expected to be present. 

As soon as it became rumored a committee con- 
vened at Philosophical Hall to consider the pro- 
priety of this entertainment. Such a " meeting " 
(so the ball was designated) " appeared to be con- 
trary to the Eighth Resolve of Congress, and 
there was strong sympathy with the royal cause 
in Philadelphia ; besides, a number were averse to 
balls while these excited times continued," assert- 



ioo DOROTHY QUINCY 

ing that they had " fears for the peace of the city 
and the destruction of the New Tavern," 7 where 
the ball was to take place. 

The committee finally decided that no ball 
" should be given then, nor in the future, while 
the troublesome times continued," 2 and orders 
were sent to warn the directors of this meeting 
" not to proceed any further." 

Christopher Marshall started immediately to no- 
tify Hancock, but he had not returned from Con- 
gress. He then walked to the State House to meet 
him. " as probably Hancock could present the del- 
icate points of the situation in the least offensive 
light to Lady Washington." Failing to see him. 
he sent for Samuel Adams and requested him to 
advise with Hancock. No time was to be lost, so 
Marshall returned to the hall, where a committee 
was appointed and despatched with the messages. 

Lady Washington was at this period nearly 
forty-eight years old. with an attractive, unaf- 
fected manner. 

These gentlemen, when ushered into her pres- 
ence, " expressed their esteem and affection," of- 
fering her " their grateful acknowledgment and 
respect." Then " desired her not to grace that 
company." 

Marshall writes : " She received them with great 
politeness, thanked the committee for their kind 
care and regard in giving such timely notice ; re- 
quested her best compliments to be returned for 



DOROTHY QUINCY 101 

their care and regard, and to assure them that 
their sentiments on this occasion were perfectly 
agreeable unto her own ;" in which reply we see 
the tact of Lady Washington. Tact — so essential 
a requisite to women who share the high position 
of prominent husbands. 

Colonel Harrison, burning with indignation al 
this defeat of his cherished plans, sought at once 
Samuel Adams to rebuke him for having used his 
influence to discourage the ball, which, he declared, 
was " legal, just and laudable.'* 

After accomplishing nothing but to evoke a 
heated talk. Harrison took his leave, and we read 
that Lady Washington, November 2~ . " about to 
o'clock, attended by a troop of Horse, two compa- 
nies of Light Infantry, etc.. left this city on her 
journey to the camp at Cambridge." 

While the friends of Washington were excited 
over this episode, Boston was to experience a far 
different agitation. On December 20 '* No less 
than thirty-four cormnissioned officers resigned 
their commissions into the hands of the General, 
declaring, as a reason for this procedure, ' that 
they could not unite in this civil war the duty of 
officers with their inclinations as men. 

One writer observes, " that such a defection in 
the Army is without parallel since the days of 
James IT., and is likely to speak more feelingly 
than all the oratory of both Houses of Parlia- 
ment." 



102 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

This information went to London in despatches 
by the ship which took home the wife of General 
Gage. 

George Washington wrote of a proposition to 
bombard Boston, and when it was read before Con- 
gress a solemn silence ensued. Then one member 
made the motion to resolve into a committee 
of the whole, in order that Mr. Hancock might 
give his opinion, " as he was deeply interested from 
having all his estate in Boston." 

After Hancock left the chair he addressed the 
chairman of the committee of the whole in the 
following words : 

" It is true, sir. nearly all of the propert} 1 
have in the world is in houses and other real 
estate in the town of Boston ; but, if the expul- 
sion of the British Army from it — and the liberties 
of our country require their being burnt to ashes — 
issue the order for that purpose immediately?"* 

On December 22d Congress passed the resolu- 
tion giving power to George Washington and his 
Council of War, if it met their views, to make an 
attack on that city, " in any manner they thought 
expedient, notwithstanding the town and propert) 
in it may be destroyed." 

It was then that Hancock wrote his " memorable 
letter to Washington," in which he said: " May 
God crown your attempt with success. I most 
heartily wish it, though individually I may be the 
greatest sufferer." 4 



DOROTHY QUINCY 103 

A man's sincerity can be judged by the sacri- 
fices he is willing to make, and it is in this respect 
that John Hancock stands forth pre-eminent. It 
is not unprecedented for men to give readily and 
liberally from their surplus, and some bestow a 
regular stipend ; but how many are willing to give, 
or sacrifice all that they have? 

It was now Hancock's task to break to his young- 
wife that he, who was one of the largest property- 
holders in Boston, had given his full consent that 
all he owned should be. burned if the good of the 
people required it. 

This announcement fell like a thunderbolt on 
Mrs. Hancock and greatly depressed her, for 
not only the husband's property was in danger, 
but that of every relative in Boston, including 
her father and brothers. 

With all her charms, persuasions, arguments — 
and, it may be, with tears — for a woman's power 
at times lies in these dewdrops — she tried to move 
her husband from his purpose. He remained in- 
flexible and declared that he was willing to devote 
the whole of his property in Boston if for the 
best interests of his country. 

Mrs. Hancock, for diversion from this sudden 
weight of oppression, attended a Quaker meet- 
ing for the first time, hoping to dispel her dejec- 
tion. She found herself immured in profound 
silence, and sat for three hours in an over-heated 
room under most harrowing emotions. 5 



104 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Dorothy Ouincy Hancock, who until this time 
had been simply a " looker-on," was in reality an 
ardent patriot. Her father and husband were 
harmoniously sympathetic in regard to their coun- 
try, and all that she had heard from them was 
ingrafted and treasured deep in her mind. 

Mrs. i [ancock was racked with harrowing emo- 
tions. 

She struggled to counteract a rebellious mood : 
the glamor of the dazzling future paled and van- 
ished. But, braced by strength within, she con- 
quered by degrees, and, with commendable forti- 
tude, resigned herself to the situation. 

Mrs. Hancock, who was " a great admirer of 
her husband — never a reproach to a wife " — we 
arc told, centered herself in all that concerned her 
liege lord. With a high appreciation of his prin- 
ciples, as well as a fond attachment to him, she 
had been gratified that his courageous declara- 
tions and active participation in all the struggles 
o\ the Massachusetts colony had been requited by 
the distinguished position of President of tin- 
Congress. But how much more the readiness to 
make this sweeping sacrifice redounded to his 
honor ! 

Dorothy's pride was not in ancestry, but in the 
man who had made a name for himself as a pro- 
tector of the people. She knew that his love for 
her was deep and unchangeable ; but the progres- 
sive crises filled his mind and absorbed much of 



DOROTHY QUINCY 105 

his time; time that was not given to increase nor 
save his wealth, but to save what was far dearer 
to him — his country and the claims of his com- 
patriots. 

She had seen him, with satisfaction, under 
every emergency rise resolutely to meet the issue ; 
and, as has been said of John Hancock, " He was 
one of Massachusetts' noblest children, and af- 
forded an exalted example of devotedness to the 
cause of independence." 

Washington's Council finally decided that "' the 
present force was inadequate to an attack/' as the 
term of enlistment of many had expired. Those 
that remained were enduring every species of 
hardship, and there was a great dearth of powder. 
Still the cry for " action " rang through the coun- 
try from those comfortably located at home. 

Franklin had written, October 3d, 1775, to Dr. 
Priestly, in England, giving succinctly this state 
of affairs : " Britain, at an expense of £3,000,000, 
has killed one hundred and fifty Yankees this cam- 
paign. During the same time sixteen thousand 
children have been born in America." 6 



CHAPTER XVI. 

England's Appeal to Europe — Howe Leaves Bos- 
ton — Duke of Manchester in Parliament — 
Judge Quincy's Letter — Aunt Lydia's Death — 
Dorothy Dudley Praises the Quincys — Birth 
of a Daughter. 

The colonists had been most subservient ; had 
with great humility laid before their Sovereign the 
wrongs inflicted on them. These pleas remained 
unnoticed. A few friends in Parliament came to 
their support, but England, confident of ultimate 
success, continued dull to all warnings and per- 
severed in her efforts to humble and subdue her 
far-away subjects. 

Then the spirit of rebellion was tired, and the 
colonists devised such measures as would show 
they were in earnest. " The newspapers," as was 
said by Lafayette, " became powerful instruments 
to aid the Revolution." They wrote freely and 
men acted openly. 

Britain also resorted to other methods, as is 
shown by this extract from a Philadelphia letter, 
January 31, 1776: 

" The whining King of Great Britain has sup- 
plicated all the powers of Europe to forbid their 
subjects supplying the cowardly Americans with 



DOROTHY QUINCY 107 

powder or arms. Among the rest, we find by one 
late paper that the King of Denmark has gratified 
him by issuing a proclamation or order for that 
purpose!" 1 

Massachusetts at last saw a gleam of hope when 
the Essex Gazette published, March 21. 1776, that 
" The British Army under General Howe, con- 
sisting of upward of seven thousand men, after 
suffering an ignominious blockade for many 
months past, disgracefully quitted all their strong- 
holds in Boston and Charlestown, fled from before 
the Army of the United Colonies and took refuge 
on board their ships. 

" The greater number of the evacuated houses 
had been pillaged, the furniture broken and many 
buildings destroyed. It is worthy of notice, how- 
ever, that the buildings belonging to the Hon. 
Mr. Hancock, particularly his elegant mansion 
house, were left in good order. But the lining 
of his chariot was torn out and carried away. 
All the linen, woolen goods, except some that 
might be secreted, were carried off by the enemy. 
All the salt and molasses which they could find 
were destroyed. 

' They also destroyed great quantities of effects 
belonging to themselves which they could not 
carry away. The joy of our friends in Boston, on 
seeing the victorious and gallant troops of their 
countrv enter the town almost at the heels of 



io8 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

their barbarous oppressors, was inexpressibly 
great." 

Boston was left in a filthy condition, with 
small-pox raging. 

During the eleven months the troops had been 
quartered there the result was unsatisfactory to 
England. The Duke of Manchester spoke, in a 
warm debate at the session of Parliament, May 10 : 

" To come now, my Lords, to that which has 
cast the deepest stain on the glory of the British 
arms ; to that which must rouse the indignation 
of all who feel for her disgrace, etc., the army of 
Britain, equipped with every essential of war, a 
chosen army, with officers, backed by the power of 
a mighty fleet, sent to correct revolted subjects; 
sent to chastise a resisting city; sent to assert 
Britain's authority, has for many tedious months 
been imprisoned within that town by the Provin- 
cial Army, who, by their watchful guards, per- 
mitted them no inlet to the country; who braved 
all their efforts and defied all that their skill and 
abilities in war could ever attempt. * * Brit- 
ish generals, whose names never met with a blot 
of dishonor, are forced to quit that town, which 
was the first object of the war; the immediate 
cause of hostilities ; the place of arms which has 
cost this nation more than a million to defend." 2 

Mrs. Hancock received from her father, March 
25, a long letter wherein he informed her of the 



DOROTHY QUINCY 109 

sister — Mrs. Sewell's — safe arrival at London. He 
continues : 

" I rejoice to find Mr. Hancock's strength holds out, 
so as to permit his very close attention to business of 
greatest moment ; that the colonies or either of them 
have had any concern with, of no less importance than 
whether they or their posterity shall be freemen or 
slaves. . . . Pray God to afford all needed wisdom 
to ye council in their debates and resolves upon ye 
important subject. It is my real opinion ye set tirne^ is 
come wherein Providence has appointed the flourishing 
states to withdraw themselves from ye control of all 
others for wise reasons, which will be manifest in due 
time to those who may survive ye expected political 
changes in this Western Hemisphere of ye globe. . . . 
The preservation of Boston, so far as it is preserved. 
is a signal favor of Heaven, tho' many are egregious 
sufferers. Your brother and his son, Stedman, in 
whose dwelling were left officers — men of singular 
honor! 

" By the same rank of miscreants have many had 
their houses ransacked. . . . May we deserve a 
continuance of the protection of Heaven, and may there 
be soon an accommodation or separation of ye younger 
from ye older states. The last I expect will be the 
necessary effect of ye unnatural treatment we have re- 
ceived. 

" You see my paper is full, and, I suppose, you tired ; 
and, therefore, close with love and best wishes of every 
real good from, dear child, 

" Your affectionately concerned parent, 

" Edmund Quincy 

The wanton and universal devastation to prop- 
erty by the British soldiers obliged many who had 
lived in affluence — gentlemen reared in luxury — 
to seek any avocation that would bring relief for 
the time being to their families. The exultation 
of the citizens was universal at the departure of 
British troops from Boston, which enabled them 



no DOROTHY QU1NCY 

to endure with greater equanimity their other mis- 
fortunes. 

A Thanksgiving proclamation was issued, in 
April, and one of the journalists wrote : " May 
America remember the memorable 17th of March, 
1776, when the proud British troops, at Boston, 
precipitately embarked on board the fleet and 
quickly left the harbor — memorable for its being 
the first place attacked and devoted to destruction 
by the enemies of American freedom." 4 

Howe was next heard of before New York. 

The latter part of April a great sorrow befell 
the Hancocks. They lost their much-loved aunt. 
John Adams writes, " to whom Hancock was most 
affectionate, dutiful and respectful," and, added 
to his grief, was the inability to reach her in time 
to " take his farewell of one who had been almost 
a mother." 

A New England paper published the following 
notice : 



" Fairfield. April 26, 1776. 

" Yesterday died here, after a short illness, Mrs. Lydia 
Hancock, relict of the Hon. Thomas Hancock, Esq.. of 
Boston. A few days before the memorable 19th of 
April she retired from her pleasant seat in that town and 
not long after came to the house of Thaddeus Burr, 
Esq.. of this place, a family with which she had long 
been peculiarly intimate, and amidst whose tenderest 
offices of friendship she expired. 

" She was the delight of all who saw her, and, being 
placed by Providence in an elevated situation, the more 
she was seen and known the more was she loved and 
admired. 



DOROTHY QUINCY m 

" The quick approach of death would not allow her to 
be attended in her last moments by her nephew, the 
Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of the American 
Congress, who was happy in being educated by her from 
his early childhood, and the object of her fondest affec- 
tion on this side of heaven." 

The Hancocks' keen suffering at the death of 
Aunt Lydia, and Mrs. Hancock's delicate condi- 
tion, led them to ask for a visit from her sister. 

Judge Quincy wrote to his daughter Kate, May 
27, 1776: " As you are called, in the Providence 
of God, to take so long a journey from hence to 
Philadelphia, at ye request of Mr. Hancock and ye 
sister," that he wished to have the earliest notice 
of her safe arrival and of her sister's state of 
health. 

It was a formidable trip to make ; the roads 
were rough, and it was " varied by the occasional 
episode of an upset." Their friend, Mr. Brant, 
attended as escort. 

Dorothy Dudley's diary includes this letter of 
hers to Miss Livingstone : "I am glad you have 
so warm a friendship with Mrs. Hancock. Her 
elder sister. Miss Kate Quincy, is to go to Phila- 
delphia in a few weeks, and I hope you will make 
her acquaintance. * * Mrs. Judge Sewell, you 
know, is another sister. They are a charming 
family ; and Mr. Quincy is a devoted father, 
warmly beloved by them all." 6 

Tn a former letter she had also written of Mrs. 
Hancock: "Is she not charming? One cannot 



H2 DOROTHY QUINCY 

'wonder at Madame Lydia Hancock's fondness for 
her, and her resolve to secure the treasure for her 
nephew." 

Esther Livingstone and Kate Quincy became 
more than acquaintances, and the daughter's ad- 
miration for the father was shared by her friend, 
Miss Livingstone, to whom she often loaned the 
letters of Judge Quincy to read. 

Miss Kate, who had been one of the bright stars 
of the Boston Assemblies in 1751, was now to be 
absorbed in a serious, silent study of calculations, 
instituted for amusement ; she was to be installed 
as a whist partner, listening to no more frothy talk 
sparkling with champagne bubbles. 

A gleam of sunshine brightened the home of 
the Hancocks. It was the birth of a daughter, 
whom they named "Lydia." 




LYDIA HENCHMAN HANCOCK, 
i Daughter of Governor and Mrs. Hancock. ) 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Repeal of the. Stamp Act — Letters of Judge 
Quincy — Hancock's Hospitality — Invites Gen- 
eral and Mrs. Washington to Visit Him — John 
Adams' Opinion of Hancock as General of the 
Forces. 

Great preparations were made in Boston for pro- 
tection should the British return ; and " almost 
every able-bodied inhabitant had voluntarily en- 
gaged to work two days in a week for six weeks 
on the fortifications for the general defense." 1 

On the 19th of May, however, all work was sus- 
pended to celebrate the repeal of the Stamp Act ; 
and such reveling and rejoicing had never before 
been observed ! " Hancock's house was brilliant 
with lights, and in front a stage was built from 
which fireworks were exhibited." 

One of the chronicler's relates, '' Under this 
hospitable roof was entertained the genteel part 
of the town, while the crowd outside were treated 
with a pipe of Madeira wine of his own importa- 
tion." 

Judge Quincy, who had many causes for solici- 
tude, seems to have sought relief in letter-writing, 
and became an active correspondent. 



ii 4 DOROTHY QUINCY 

From Lancaster, May 27, 1776, he says: * * 
" Still may our confidence be placed on Him who 
is ye confidence of all the ends of the earth; His 
arm alone can and will save us, as He has often 
done our fathers in this land when little better 
than a howling desert." 2 

The 18th of June, in a letter to ,Rev. Jacob Bige- 
low, he writes of the late feeble and unprepared 
colonies of America, " which I think, by the will 
of Heaven, are fast rising into states, which. 
under ye protection of ye God of Armies, may 
become objects of ye closest European attention 
and commercial attraction ; and these things seem 
not to be distant." 3 

To his dear daughter Hancock he tells that her 
brother was fired with the war spirit, and would 
like to have gone had his wife's health permitted. 
He wanted to sell the negro girl, Polly, who gave 
them much trouble ; and thought she would be a 
better servant with a master not so lenient. He 
was anxiously watching for the return of his 
daughter Kate, who in Philadelphia rose from a 
bed of sickness with her face marked and marred 
by small-pox. 

In other letters he is most laudatory of his son- 
in-law Hancock, whose fine qualities he heartily 
appreciated ; and to the loved Dorothy he gives the 
counsel " to keep a level head." And to Mr. 
Brant he writes that more men like John Hancock 
are wanted to inspire the whole by their example. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 115 

Old letters ! touch them gently, yellow with age, 
and brown; spotted, stained and faded; torn and 
ragged with time's creases — letters of sorrow, let- 
ters of joy, tear-dimmed or pressed with warm 
kisses — bearers of hope or despair, revealing emo- 
tions of good-will and of ill, betraying tortures 
of pain or billows of pleasure. The hands that 
wrote them were once glowing with life ; the eyes 
chat perused them bright with light. The old 
letters ! Touch them reverently as they sweep aside 
the mists of the past ! 

President Hancock's office entailed on him con- 
tinuous and general hospitality, which, with the 
aid of his wife, he graciously and unsparingly 
dispensed. This was from his own purse, for not 
until later did Congress allow the President an 
income to support his position and maintain his 
" household expenses." 4 

Congress, on the 19th of May, summoned Wash- 
ington to Philadelphia. Hancock wrote to him 
urging a speedy attendance on Congress, and said, 
" I request the favor that you will please to honor 
me with your and your lady's company at my 
home," and that every endeavor on his part and 
Mrs. Hancock's would be exerted to make their 
stay agreeable. 

In a later letter he writes that ct Mrs. Washing- 
ton may be as retired as she pleases while under 
inoculation. * * * The house is large and 



n6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

roomy ; it will be entirely in your power to live in 
that manner you should wish." 

Mrs. Lamb states this cordial invitation was ac- 
cepted, and General, with Mrs. Washington en- 
joyed the hospitality of President Hancock fifteen 
days. 5 

In February Hancock had been appointed 
Major-General of the Massachusetts Militia. Some 
surprise was evinced that Adams had not advo- 
cated him for command of the Army. This is 
accounted for in his writings, where he says : 
"John Hancock's exertions, sacrifices and general 
merits in the cause of his country had been incom- 
parably greater than those of Colonel Washing- 
ton; but he was in delicate health, and his entire 
want of experience in active service, though an 
excellent military officer, were decided objections 
to his being appointed General of the forces." 6 

The hour advanced that was to usher in one of 
the most momentous revolutions of modern times. 
Undivided attention was riveted on that band of 
staunch patriots in Philadelphia, awaiting the de- 
cision which was to form an epoch of success or 
failure in American history. 

One historian writes: "The people of the 
North had been trained to investigate constitu- 
tional principles. They were sensitive to every 
encroachment upon their rights. 

" At the South and Middle States a different 
spirit prevailed. The idea of independence was 



DOROTHY QUiNCY 117 

for a long time as unpalatable as the Stamp Act 
itself." 7 

But, though some of the states were slow to 
accept the change, ultimately a unity of sentiment 
prevailed, and they strove together for the same 
end, with resistance for their cry. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Declaration of Independence — Winthkop De- 
scribes Hancock — Reception of the News — 
The Hancocks' Happiness Impresses Adams — 
Boston and New York Jubilant — Hancock's 
Name Given to Ships and Children — Extracts 
from Judge Quincy's Letters — Hancock 
Writes to Washington. 

In Philadelphia there had congregated the arbi- 
ters of the colonies' fate ; and Thomas Jefferson's 
paper declaring independence was unanimously 
adopted the 4th of July. 1776. after some debate 
and a few changes. 

Hancock had exclaimed, " We must be unani- 
mous ; there must be no pulling different ways!" 

" Yes," answered Franklin, " we must all hang 
together or, most assuredly, we must all hang 
separately!" 1 

John Hancock was the first to place his bold 
signature to the Declaration of Independence ; and 
alone that signature went forth to the public. 2 
" He had signed his name upon a document which, 
at the time, in the estimation of thousands, was 
as likely to prove his death warrant as his pass- 
port to fame." 3 Then " Congress ordered it to be 
entered at length upon the journals; and it was 



DOROTHY QUINCY 119 

also ordered to be engrossed upon parchment for 
the delegates to sign." 4 

Winthrop describes Hancock on this occasion : 
" Forty years of age, with a princely fortune at 
stake, and a price upon his head, sitting there in 
all the calm composure and dignity which so pecu- 
liarly characterized him, and which nothing 
seemed able to relax or ruffle. Behold him ! He 
has risen for a moment. He has put the ques- 
tion — Declaration is adopted !" 

A throng of eager souls packed the streets 
around the old hall, anxious and expectant, wait- 
ing for news — filled with forebodings or with con- 
fidence, attentively alert to every sound, every 
move from where were assembled the men whose 
fiat was to make multitudes tremble at its bold- 
ness. 

The announcement was made — " Independ- 
ence !" What a cry was that to ring from one end 
of the colonies to the other! How it made the 
blood tingle ; how the brain reeled at the thought. 
" Independence !" rose on the air, resounding and 
resounding wherever there was a voice to carry it. 

Quivering with joy, frantic shouts greeted that 
welcome word — a word that broke the chain of 
thraldom and winged the thoughts on to the bor- 
der of beatitude. 

They rushed and swayed through the crowd to 
the King's arms, which was seized and committed 
to a bon-fire before the Courthouse ; and the sad 



120 DOROTHY QUINCY 

hearts were to be found only among the English 
sympathizers. 

Abbe Reynal wrote in his " Essay on the Revo- 
lution in America,'' T781 : " With what grandeur, 
with what enthusiasm shall I speak of those gen- 
erous men who erected this grand edifice by their 
patience, their wisdom and their courage. * * * 
Hancock, Franklin, and the two Adamses were 
the greatest actors in this affecting scene ; but they 
were not the only ones. Posterity shall know them 
all. * * Brass and marble shall show them to 
remotest ages." 5 

No one shared more in the general joy at this 
final severance from Great Britain than Mrs. 
Hancock, for there was marked unanimity of sen- 
timent between herself and her husband. Their 
continued devotion to each other impelled John 
Adams to write to his wife that he would never 
come to Philadelphia again without her, " and we 
will be as happy as Mr. Hancock and his lady." 

The people of Boston were thrown into trans- 
ports of wild delight when they heard "proclaimed 
from the balcony of the State House the Declara- 
tion of the American Congress absolving the 
united colonies from their allegiance to the British 
crown, and declaring them free and independ- 
ent STATES." 

In the evening, moved by the same impulse as 
in Philadelphia, down toppled every insignia of 
royalty or any resemblance to it, whether " Lion 




JOHN HANCOCK. 
i From an oil painting by Copley.) 



DOROTHY QU1NCY 121 

and Crown, Pestle and Mortar and Crown, Heart 
and Crown, etc., together with every sign that be- 
longed to a Tory; and King's street was ablaze 
with its general conflagration." 6 The work of de- 
struction was carried out on everything pertaining 
to a British emblem and rule. In New York they 
pulled down the equestrian statute of George III. 
and broke it into pieces, making bullets of it later. 

A play was written and performed, entitled 
"The Fall of British Tyranny; or, American Lib- 
erty Triumphant." " The First Campaign, a 
tragic comedy of five acts, containing twenty-six 
Scenets. * * * A much admired performance, 
truly dramatic." 

To the many, the name of Hancock possessed 
magic. A letter from Albany, July 15th, an- 
nounces : " Lately was launched at Newburyport, 
the second continental frigate of thirtv-six o-uns. 
named the Hancock." Then a Philadelphia pri- 
vateer was named Hancock, "a large ship of 
twenty guns." 

The following unique article is from the New 
York Gazette and Mercury, June 24th. T776: 



" On the 2d inst. was baptized at Ripton, in Startford. 
in Connecticut, a son of Benjamin De Forest, merchant, 
by name of John Hancock, out of respect to that honor- 
able and truly noble patriot, now President of that 
august assembly, the Congress, who is an illustrious 
pattern of patriotism; a bold asserter of his country's 
rights; the envy of despotic rulers; who, by his merit, 
has risen to his exalted station, and who has obtained the 



122 DOROTHY QUINCY 

unassembled affection of all true lovers of American 
liberty. This name will make a pleasing sound in the 
ears of unborn posterity." 

And, so from all over the country his fond wife 
had the glad tidings of Hancock's popularity. 

Judge Quincy, in a letter the 21st of July, 
writes : 

'' The Declaration was well timed to meet Howe on 
his first arrival, as he left Great Britain under expecta- 
tion of doing much toward reconciliation, with full 
power of pardoning rebels. So much strength, union 
and resolution in ye colonies must have given him a 
shock when he would not have expected from any of ye 
worthy Dr. Franklin's experiments. * * * Surprising 
is ye spirit of freedom in these thirteen independent 
states, which in a few years may eclipse ye fame of ye 
late proudest state in Europe. I thank ye for ye Con- 
gress Declaration of Independence. Never have I read 
a public paper with more satisfaction. I trust ye happy 
consequences of ye measure may afford the clearest evi- 
dence of its maturity and wisdom." 8 

From Judge Quincy's quiet retreat his thoughts 
took a prescient vein. July 22, 1776, he wrote to 
his son : " Singular has been Mr. Hancock's cour- 
age, resolution and activity to ye important Fourth 
Currt, when he, at ye head of thirteen American 
states, after ye most solemn debate and delibera- 
tion, resolved that these states were then free and 
independent and absolved from all allegiance to ye 
British crown." 9 

Again, November 14, 1776, we find him writing 
to his son Edmund : " If ye people of these 
favored states will but realize the blessings they 



DOROTHY QUINCY 123 

enjoy, and resolve to improve them by economy, 
industry and virtue, I have no doubt but this 
Western Hemisphere will be equally renowned in 
less than one hundred years with any part of ye 
Eastern: perhaps much more." 

Here is one of Hancock's letters to Washington 
on the times, September 24. 1776: 

Let us convince our enemies that, as we entered 
into the present contest for the defense of our liberties, 
so we are resolved, with the firmest reliance on Heaven, 
for the justice of our cause, never to relinquish it; but 
rather to perish in the ruins of it. 

If we do but remain firm, — if we are not dismayed 
at the little shocks of fortune, and are determined at all 
hazards, that we will be free — I am persuaded, under 
the gracious smiles of Providence, assisted by our most 
strenuous endeavors, we shall finally succeed agreeably 
to our wishes, and thereby establish the independence, 
the happiness and the glory of the United States of 
\tnerica." 10 

Mrs. Hancock and her sister were delayed in 
Philadelphia, as the roads were unsafe ; and Octo- 
ber 6, 1776, Judge Quincy wrote to Hancock that 
lie heard his two daughters were to take the jour- 
ney north, and advises them to cross thirty or 
forty miles above New York in consequence of 
the danger. The anxious father had alrcadv. for 
fourteen days, been expecting " Daughter Han- 
C ick," and was looking forward to her early ar- 
rival, lie had made a trip to Boston, where were 
very ivw of his old friends or acquaintances, and 
i\ wer relatives. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Debates in Parliament — Privateeks — Congress in 

Baltimore — Dinners — John Hancock's Return 

to Philadelphia — Letters to Wife — Lifk 

Without " Dolly " — Her Arrival — Reply to 

>: Acrostic on Hancock's Name. 

The year 1777 opened under the new regime 
replete with disquietude and restlessness, but not 
discouragement. Lord and General Howe, in 
their letters to their Government, forcibly report- 
ed that " it was in vain to contest with the Amer- 
icans. Their enthusiasm was such that, if they 
were subdued for the moment in one corner, they 
will break out in another. It is Cadmean work." 

fn Parliament there were spirited debates on 
both sides. Some were in favor of the relinquish- 
ment of the colonies. " What is the means of 
conciliation held out by Howe?" said one member. 
" Nothing but absolute, unconditional submission 
on the part of the states." " It meant nothing but 
the privilege of being absolutely governed and 
taxed by the British Parliament." The debates 
are curious reading at this day. 

May 26th, in the House of Commons, a noble- 
man, Lord Ongley, declared as his belief, " that the 
granting independence to America would be the 



DOROTHY QUINCY 125 

only means of securing peace with her." And 
Sir William Meredith condemned this course: "If 
it meant to give sanction to His Majesty to agree 
to the independence of America, no Englishman 
nor sensible American could agree to it. Inde- 
pendency would be fatal to both countries; in its 
nature it would be productive of ruin to both." 

February of this year an addition was made of 
eighteen privateers to the service, which were 
fitted out from Marblehead, Mass. ; and ninety- 
six from New England. John Hancock was pre- 
sented with an elegant coach from the owners of 
the privateer Civil Usage, of Newburyport, which 
had been taken in one of their prizes; and was 
given " as a token of their respect for that gentle- 
man, who has so nobly distinguished himself in 
the present contest with Great Britain as the friend 
of his country." 1 

In consequence of fears excited from the prox- 
imity of the Hessians, who had taken possession 
of Burlington, N. J., Congress adjourned to Balti- 
more, and the Philadelphians, in great alarm and 
confusion, with the exception of the Quakers, 
moved their families out of the city. 

The Hancocks had their effects transported to 
Baltimore. Here they were cordially welcomed 
with dinners and many entertainments from the 
hospitable residents. 

John Adams, writing to his wife, February 21, 



126 DOROTHY QUINCY 

1777, thus speaks of a banquet given by Mr. Pur- 
viance : 

"We had a brilliant company; the two Purviances, 
the two Lees, the ladies of the two Colonels R. H. and 
R, Mrs. Hancock, Miss Katy, a young lady that belongs 
to the family. If this letter, like some other wise ones, 
should be intercepted, I suppose I shall be called to 
account for not adjusting the rank of these ladies a little 
better. Mr. Hancock, the two Colonel Lees, Colonel 
Whipple, Colonel Page, Colonel Ewing and the two 
Purviances, and a young gentleman." 2 

This conveys an impression of strictly enforced 
etiquette which George Washington had contend- 
ed with at his headquarters, where any deviation 
from its rules also caused " bad feeling and jeal- 
ousy. 3 

The latter part of the month Congress again 
met in Philadelphia, where Hancock returned 
without his wife and became absorbed in work. 
It has been said of him that " he was unremitting 
in his application to business, and his correspond- 
ence while President of Congress is rich in patri- 
otic fervor." 4 

Hancock, whose allegiance to his wife was as 
strong as to his country, hastened in advance, 
alone, to his house, which was then totally devoid 
of comfort and conveniences. He portrays this 
bachelor life in letters to " Dear Dolly," from 
which I take a few extracts. 

In a long epistle " March 10, 1777, ten o'clock, 
evening," which he numbers (4) and begins, 
" My Dear, Dear Dolly," he relates his detention 



DOROTHY QUINCY 127 

at the ferry, and that Mrs. Smith had sent him 
two blankets, a table cloth, tea, sugar, loaf of 
bread and cream; and says, " Indeed, Mrs. Smith 
obliged me much. I however, lead a doleful, lone- 
some life, though on Saturday I dined at Dr. Ship- 
pen's ; he desires his regards. He is as lonesome 
as I am. On Sunday I sat down to dinner at the 
little table with Folger, on a piece of roast beef, 
with potatoes. We drank your health with all our 
Baltimore friends." 

John Hancock spends his evenings at home. 
Has to snuff the candle with a pair of scissors, as 
the household equipments had not started from 
Baltimore ! 

A compassionate friend comes to his relief and 
leaves him a pair of snuffers. 

He continues : 

" Seeing me dip the gravy out of the dish with my 
pewter teaspoon, she sent me a large silver spoon and 
two teaspoons, so that I am quite rich. * * * I shall 
make out as well as I can, but I assure you, my dear 
soul, I long to have you here; and I know you will be 
as expeditious as you can. When I part from you again 
it must be a very extraordinary occasion." 

He encloses a sash for the baby and two little 
papers of pins. He writes : 

" However unsettled things may be, I could not help 
sending for you, as I cannot live in this way. * * * 
This you may depend on — that you will be ever the 
object of my utmost care and attention. I hope you will 
be able to pack up all your things quickly and that you 
will soon follow. 



128 DOROTHY QUINCY 

" 1 want you to get somebody clever to accompany 
you. Take good care of Lydia. I hope no accident will 
happen." 

He suggests all the arrangements for her relief 
and ease while traveling, closing with : 

" May every blessing of an indulgent Providence at- 
tend you. I most sincerely wish you a good journey, 
and hope I shall soon, very soon, have the happiness of 
seeing you. With the utmost affection and love, my 
dear Dolly, I am yours forever, John Hancock/"' 

" Mrs. Washington got here on Saturday. I went to 
see her. She told me she drank tea with you." 

The next clay another letter is despatched : 
March n — "No Congress today, and I have been 
as busily employed as you can conceive." He 
dilates on his solitude, which should be bright- 
ened as speedily as possible, and that depended on 
his " dearest Dolly," and the greater despatch she 
made the sooner would be his relief. " I have sent 
off Harry, McClosky and Dennis this morning 
with horses and wagons as winged messengers to 
bring you. God grant you a speedy and safe jour- 
ney to me." 

His careful thought and provision for others is 
shown when he writes, " Should any gentlemen 
and ladies accompany you out of town do send 
McClosky forward to order a handsome dinner, 
and I beg you will pay every expense. Order 
McClosky to direct the landlord not to receive a 
single farthing from anyone but by your direc- 
tion and order a genteel dinner; plenty." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 129 

Hancock wishes her to give some present to 
Mr. Samuel Purviance, with " our compliments ;" 
and requests that she take part of the guard, with 
an officer, to attend her ; and part to come with the 
wagons. 

His dear Dolly was still the dilatory correspond- 
ent. 

" Am 1 not to have another letter from you? 
Surely I must," he exclaims. Then writes : " I 
am so harassed with applications, and have been 
sending oft expresses to call all the members here 
that I have as much as I can turn my hands to : 
I don't get to dinner ; catch a bite. I write, and 
then, at it again. If it promotes the cause I am 
happy." 

In another part of the letter he describes how 
he takes " a plate in one hand, without a cloth or 
any comfort, and eats a little and then to writing, 
for I have not room on the table to put a plate. I 
am up to the eyes in papers." 

Later on he writes : 



" Supper is over; no relish, nor shall I till I have you 
here, and I wish Mr. and Mrs. Hilliges to join us at sup- 
per on Tuesday evening, when I shall expect you. I 
shall have fires made and everything ready for your 
reception. I don't mean to hurry you beyond measure. 
Do as you like; don't fatigue vourself in traveling too 
fast." 

Speaking of the troops and where they were 
bound, he concludes: 



130 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

" Time will discover. Never fear: we shall get the day 
finally, with the smiles of Heaven. Do take precious 
care of our dear little Lydia. Adieu! I long to sec you. 
Take care of vourseif. I am, my dear girl, yours, most 
affectionate. " John Hancock." 8 

And so his chivalrous heart vibrated between 
his two loves, — wife and country. 

There was another yearning to see the dear 
Dolly. Judge Quincy. with his long-expectant 
waiting for the arrival of his two daughters and 
the baby, whom Hancock detained because of the 
danger of travel. Judge Quincy is worried, but 
rejoices that they are not in Boston, " for thro' ye 
wickedness of intestine enemies, and other vo- 
racious animals, ye natural and political advan- 
tages of that once happy town are surprisingly 
eclipsed, as I observed when there last fall, and 
the change has been since much more visible." 
This was in May. He had heard of the inocula- 
tion of his little grand-daughter, and hoped that 
she " may by the will of God be long since car- 
ried through the distemper." 7 

It has been said, " there is no third place in 
matrimony — no purgatory ; it is either heaven or 
hell." The "dear Dolly" arrived at Philadel- 
phia and brought into that desolate domicile of 
discomfort the glowing, cheerful light of her pres- 
ence, with that of the little Lydia, transforming 
it again into an ideal home. What wonder that 
Dorothy's absence had caused an aching void ! 
She entered into the sentiments of pathos and af- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 131 

fection that touched John Hancock; his indigna- 
tion against Britain was her indignation ; his love 
and care for the people was warmly espoused by 
her; his wish for an independent country met a 
ready response in her flashing eye and public 
spirit; and much that was good may have been 
due to her influence, exerted quietly, discreetly 
and wisely. 

Hancock had been no favorite with the oppon- 
ents of independence, yet he continued to hold the 
devotion of the masses, who treasured no social- 
istic feeling against him because of his riches or 
style of living. They were not hunting for flaws 
in one who had dealt so generously towards them, 
and his record is free from any oppression of the 
people. 

That his sedulous efforts toward pushing the 
Federal Constitution ; his protection of country ; 
his never-failing advocacy of republican institu- 
tions, failed to arouse gratitude in all of his coun- 
trymen was but human nature That John Han- 
cock was without faults I do not assert, but where 
is the perfect man? It has been said, " Trivial 
imperfections of men fade before their great and 
predominating virtues, when they have them.' 

Many that esteemed him were proud to give 
his name to their children. This quaint announce- 
ment is from the Independent Chronicle, May 2, 
1777: "Alexander Gordon of Salem, State of 
New Hampshire, had a son baptized by the name 



132 DOROTHY QUINCY 

of John Hancock, it being his tenth son and six- 
teenth child, and in the sixty-second year of his 
age." 

In a unique style one of his defenders replies 
to an acrostic that had appeared : " Please give 
the following remarks a place in your paper, and 
you will oblige your friend Philander. In the 
acrostic upon the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., in 
ihe Worcester paper of March 20, I cannot but re- 
mark in honor to that worthy gentleman upon this 
stroke in it, ' That he sprang out of obscurity,' 
which is not only a reflection upon his family, 
but far from truth. His grandfather was one 
of the most sensible and witty clergymen of his 
day, and was held in the highest repute by 
his* ministry, which 

may be . And Governor Belcher 

had always die greatest veneration for him, whose 
tutor he was in his minority, and he always ex- 
pressed the greatest pleasure in hearing him from 
the desk; and a church minister at Marblehead, 
having heard of his fame, attended upon his 
preaching at a lecture in that place. He was called 
the Bishop by the clergy and laity of his day (and 
though he did not -wear lawn sleeves, would Bos- 
ton find his equal among all their prelates they 
must go to Wales, to the pious, learned and ever 
to be esteemed Bishop of St. Asaph, whose niem- 

*Print faded. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 133 

ory will be ever dear to a Columbian so long as 
time shall endure." 

His father was an excellent parish minister of 
a most amiable temper, and nearly resembled the 
disciple whom Jesus loved. And I cannot but take 
notice here of what the great and learned Mr. 
Gay of Hingham said, and which will ever do the 
greatest honor to his memory : " First, no man 
was better to his friend, and, if he was not good 
to his enemy, it was not for want of inclination, 
but an object. It is true the worthy patriot was 
not born to an estate, for the clergy are commonly 
poor in this world, like their Master; but he was 
early adopted by his uncle, who had one of the 
best estates in Columbia, and a seat for some years 
at the Council Board, and was one of the greatest 
benefactors to our college that was ever born 
amongst us. Thus honorably was our patriot de- 
scended. It is true, he had not the blood of all 
the princes of Europe running through his veins, 
as Dr. South said of Charles I. ; but has blood 
that is much better ; blood that was never stained 
with popery nor arbitrary principles. Long live 
the hero ! And may the amiable temper of his 
pious father be more and more conspicuous in him 
and his country." 

(All the printers in Columbia are desired to 
insert these remarks in their papers.) 



CHAPTER XX. 

Sewell's Letter to a Former Friend — Washing- 
ton's Annoyances — Death of Daughter — Mrs. 
Hancock Leaves Philadelphia — John Hancock 
Writes Her — Their Cheerful Fireside — Han- 
cock's Letter to Washington — Hancock's Ad- 
dress to Congress — Regrets at His Departure. 
His Warm Reception. 

The atmosphere of England had no softening 
effect on Jonathan Sewell, who, seeing that a for- 
mer friend of his had been appointed to the office 
of Attorney-General, wrote to him from London, 
April 24, 1777: 

•' John Lowell, Esquire. 

" Sir — That I once had a real friendship for you I 
believe you cannot doubt, but that it now glows with 
its former warmth — to pretend it would be an instance of 
flattery to which my heart is a stranger. The principles 
of the side in which you have become a partisan I know 
will render it difficult for you to conceive it possible 
any trace of it should now remain; however, as I once 
wished and endeavored to keep you steady in paths of 
honor and loyalty, so I now wish to save you from per- 
dition." 

He urges him to repent and bring his " deluded 
countrymen back to loyalty," and says, " You have 
not well considered what an indelible stain of 
infamy the having been engaged in rebellion will 



DOROTHY QUINCY 135 

leave upon your character and entail upon your 
innocent children." 1 He had written the month 
previous, " I hope to God I shall not live to see 
the day when America shall become independent of 
Great Britain;"- but he lived for many years 
after. I do not know that the letters to his family 
were equally bitter ; but we have seen how friend- 
ships were severed by this war. 

The discussion of the new Constitution contin- 
ued with acrimony ; and in Philadelphia feeling- 
waxed strong-; party rancor entered into every 
event. " Mrs. Washington said that, when once 
in Philadelphia, none or but few of the ladies of 
that city called upon her, so prevalent was the dis- 
affection." 3 

Washington did not escape annoyance and dis- 
content. New regiments were increasing tardily ; 
he was enduring much with his exhausted and 
ragged troops, besides being " tormented by plots 
of jealous generals." Hancock, who felt for him, 
in a friendly, sympathetic spirit wrote to the Gen- 
eral words of encouragement. 

August 23d Washington notified Hancock that 
he intended to march his troops through Phila- 
delphia without halting, that it may " have some 
influence on the minds of the disaffected there," 
and " those who are dupes to their artifices and 
opinions." 

A cloud, heavier than war's alarms, had settled 
over one home. Silence reigned. Laughter was 



i 3 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

hushed in the Hancock house. Merry voices were 
sobbing, and bright eyes were weeping; the foot- 
falls were light, but the hearts were heavy, for in 
a curtained room lay the small, inanimate form of 
Lydia, their only child, the cherished daughter of 
the household. There was but One to Whom the 
heartbroken parents could turn in their grief, for 
words of sympathy afforded cold comfort. Yet 
many kindly natures lavished them, hoping to 
alleviate their distress, and they were grateful 
for the remembrance. 

A letter came September 8, 1777, to John Han- 
cock from Judge Quincy to condole with him on 
the decease of his child ; and on the 14th the fond 
grand-parent wrote announcing to Mrs. Sewell 
that her sister had lost " a promising daughter." 
Then the sorrowing mother was urged to make a 
change, and she departed for the North. 

Philadelphia had been wrought up by all those 
exciting alarms that war entails. Again it was 
considered unsafe, as on the 19th a rumor that 
General Howe's army was crossing the Schuylkill 
started Congress and others to leave before day- 
light. It proved then a false alarm, and a reac- 
tion followed ; but the 23d found many terrified 
citizens moving out of town — a wise precaution, 
as on the 26th the English entered the city. 

Under date of October 18, 1777. Hancock writes 
from Yorktown : 



DOROTHY QUINCY i 37 

" My Dear Dolly : 

" I am now at this date and not a line from you, nor 
a single word have I heard from you since your letter 
by Dodd, immediately upon your arrival at Worcester, 
which you may judge affects me not a little ; but I must 
submit, and will only say that I expected oftener to have 
been the object of your attention. This is my sixth 
letter to you. * * * I have come to a fixed deter- 
mination to return to Boston for a short time, and I 
have notified Congress in form of my intentions. 

" Please immediately on receipt of this tell Mr. Sprigs 
to prepare the light carriage and four horses and himself 
to proceed on to Hartford or Fairfield. I shall hope 
and must desire that you will take a seat in the carriage 
and meet me on the road, which will much advance your 
health, and you may be assured will be highly satisfac- 
tory to me ; and I have desired Mr. Brant to accompany 
you in the carriage, and when we meet he can take the 
sulkey and I return with you in the carriage to town. 

* * * My dear, I hope your health will admit of your 
coming with Mr. Brant. I long to see you." 

He writes, further on, that he should travel with 
great speed : 

" Nothing will prevent my seeing you soon, with the 
leave of Providence, but a prevention of passing the 
North river. I shall push hard to get over even if I go 
so far as Albany. I need not tell you there will be no 
occasion of your writing me after the receipt of this. 

* * * My best wishes attend you for every good. I 
have much to say, which I leave to a cheerful evening 
with you in person. 

" God bless you, my dear Dolly. I am, 
" Yours most affectionately, 

"John Hancock." 4 

We have read and realized how John Hancock 
felt, waiting, watching and expecting a letter long 
delayed from the discreet Miss Quincy or the 
silent Mrs. Hancock. This appears prudent, for 



i 3 8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

the post was slow and the risk of capture great; 
with the chance that tender effusions would ulti- 
mately afford diversion to British soldiery around 
camp-fires. 

But what a fascinating Dorothy she must have 
been to smooth out all the inequalities of mood 
that silence engendered. The first impulse would 
be towards resentment, yet we find John Hancock 
succumbing to the charm, potent though absent, 
and writing that he sighed to be with her ; that he 
will never be parted so long again, and that he 
yearns for their talks by the fireside. 

That fireside is before us. We can picture it 
with the huge, blazing, crackling logs, resting on 
large, glittering brass fire-dogs ; the bright, fluted 
fender ; the shining shovel and tongs ; the subdued, 
soft light from tall spermaceti candles standing 
erect in their chiseled silver holders and resting 
on the high carved mantel ; the mirror, with three 
divisions, mounted in black and gilt. 

Here they are to sit and talk as has been their 
wont, on his return after the day's anxieties and 
perplexities ; here, where John Hancock found a 
tender-hearted consoler and a companion to whom 
he listened with pleasure, while their more serious 
discourse was varied by the playful badinage that 
pervades his letters. 

When a man like Hancock, with position and 
money, courted by men for his influence and by 
women for his personal attractions, prefers his 



DOROTHY QU1NCY 139 

own home and his own wife, there must assuredly 
be something in that woman of high tone and win- 
ning attractions to produce this result. 

John Hancock, in October, wrote to Washing- 
ton that the decline of health occasioned by " long 
and unremitted application to the duties of office, 
both in Congress and out of Congress," obliged 
him to think of retiring for a rest of two or three 
months ; and he concludes with, " The politeness 
and attention I have ever experienced from you, 
in the course of our correspondence, will always 
be a source of the most pleasing satisfaction to 
me." 

Washington replied from " Headquarters, Octo- 
ber 22, 1777:" 

'" Dear Sir : 

" It gives me real pain to learn that the declining state 
of your health, owing to your unwearied attention to 
public business and the situation of your private affairs, 
oblige you to relinquish a station, though for a time, 
which you have filled with acknowledged propriety. 
Motives, as well of a personal as of a general concern, 
make me regret the necessity that compels you to retire, 
and to wish your absence from office may be of as short 
duration as possible. In the progress of that inter- 
course, which has necessarily subsisted between us, 
the manner in which you have conducted it on your 
part, accompanied with every expression of politeness 
and regard to me, gives you a claim to my warmest ac- 
knowledgments." 5 

Washington suggests that it would be safer for 
him to defer his journey until affairs had taken a 
more settled shape. He offers him an escort to 



i 4 o DOROTHY QUINCY 

General Putnam's camp, where another would be 
furnished, and concludes : 

" I am extremely obliged to you for your polite ten- 
der of services during my intended residence at Boston, 
and shall always be happy, when leisure and opportunity 
permit, if you will give me the pleasure of hearing from 
you. I have the honor to be, etc." 

Not intimidated by the danger Hancock contin- 
ued his preparations for departure. On Novem- 
ber 2, 1777, Washington again wrote to him: 

" You have my warmest wishes for your recovery, and 
1 shall be happy if your recess should be attended with 
benefits superior to your most sanguine expectations. 
Your exertions to promote the general interest, I am 
well convinced, will be unceasing and that every meas- 
ure which the situation of your health will permit you 
to pursue will be employed to that end, whether you are 
in Congress, or obliged to remain in the State of Massa- 
chusetts." 

Closing with : 

" I have nothing further to add than to wish you an 
agreeable journey and a happy meeting with your lady 
and friends, and to assure you that I am, dear sir, etc." 6 

John Hancock, on taking leave of Congress, 
said : "As I could never flatter myself your 
choice proceeded from any idea of my abilities, but 
rather from a partial opinion of my attachment to 
the liberties of America, * * * I think I shall 
be forgiven if I say I have spared no pains, ex- 
pense or labor to gratify your wishes and to ac- 
complish the views of Congress." 

After writing of his health, he says : 



DOROTHY QUINCY 141 

" I cannot take my departure, gentlemen, without 
expressing my thanks for the civility and politeness I 
have experienced from you. It is impossible to men- 
tion this without a heartfelt pleasure. If, in the course 
of so long a period as I have had the honor to fill this 
chair, any expressions may have dropped from me that 
may have given the least offence to any member, as it 
was not intentional, so I hope his candor will pass it 
over. May every happiness, gentlemen, attend yon. 
both as members of this house and as individuals, etc." 

Congress ordered the Secretary, to wait on the 
President and request him to furnish a copy of his 
speech. 7 

One of the members wrote on Hancock's ab- 
sence from Congress, saying, " I am much con- 
cerned, though his great fatigue and long attend- 
ance entitle him to some relaxation. How we 
shall do without him I know not, for we have 
never yet put in a chairman, on a committee of 
the whole House, that could in any measure fill 
his place. He has not only dignity and impartial- 
ity, which are the great requisites of a president 
of such a body; but has an alertness, attention, 
readiness to conceive any motion and its tendency, 
and of every alteration proposed, in the course of 
a debate which greatly tends to facilitate and ex- 
pedite business." 

Hancock makes time to indite another epistle to 
his " Dear Dolly " from Dover, sixty miles from 
Hartford : 

" My Dear : — I am thus far on my journey to meet 
you. Thank God for it. I have been through many 
difficulties on the road, but that I shall not mind. The 



i 4 2 DOROTHY QUINCY 

remembrance of those difficulties will vanish when I 
have the happiness of seeing you. I am still obliged to 
have my foot wrapped up in baize, but I brave all these 
things. * * * I have much to say, but refer all to 
the happy time when I shall be with you." 8 

Does it not look as if John Hancock never at- 
tained to Dickens' state of mind, when he once ex- 
claimed, " I loathe domestic hearths!" 

Along the route he was received with contin- 
uous indications of the high esteem in which he 
was held an approval of his efficient work. 

Mrs. Hancock hastened to meet her sick hus- 
band to cheer him over the rough roads and weari- 
ness that, as an invalid, he had to endure. 

A notice from Hartford, November r8, says: 

" On Friday passed through this town, escorted 
by a party of Light Dragoons, the Hon. John 
Hancock, Esq., President of the American Con- 
gress, with his lady, on his way to Boston after an 
absence on public business of more than two years 
and a half." 

" On his arrival in Boston the bells were rung, 
cannon fired by artillery at Fort Hill and from the 
shipping in the harbor. He received the compli- 
ments of gentlemen of all orders, and every indi- 
cation was given of the sense the public has of his 
important services to the American cause." 

Mr. Otis, in a letter to Elbridge Gerry, says, 
" Honorable Mr. Hancock arrived, not looking in 
the full power of health." 



CHAPTER XXI. 

The Hancock Establishment — Portraits of Madam 
Hancock — John Hancock, His Tastes — Consid- 
eration of Others — His Generosity. 

The Hancock home had been occupied during 
the siege by General Clinton, also by Lord Percy, 
and was left in a damaged condition. After the 
battle of Bunker Hill the house and stables had 
been used for the wounded. 

The renovation was rapidly pushed forward, 
while the Hancocks resided at Jamaica Plain. A 
thorough refurnishing was required, and orders 
were sent to London for Wilton carpets for the 
bedrooms ; and " furniture that was most fashion- 
able, and a handsome silver tea urn, whether 
wrought or unwrought." 1 

Dorothy Dudley's diary gives this description 
of the future residence of Madam Hancock, as 
she was generally designated : " The magnificent 
house, standing as it does on the brow of the hill, 
commanding an extensive view of the country 
around, is typical of the prominence and exalted 
station of its owner, who has incurred the deadly 
displeasure of the royal Government, by reason of 
his determined patriotism. Massive stone walls, 



144 DOROTHY QUINCY 

supporting a tiled roof, from which several dormer 
windows look forth upon the town and its sur- 
roundings ; projecting balcony over the front door, 
and broad stone steps and paved walk leading from 
the street. A grand drawing-room on the right, 
where hang the portraits of the Hancock family 
back to the days of the early Puritans ; an immense 
dining-hall out of this designed for large compa- 
nies ; the family drawing-room to the left, and a 
smaller dining-room out of that; spacious halls 
and chambers elegantly furnished and hung with 
pictures of various kinds." 2 

" The bedroom furniture and hangings were 
of gold-colored damask." 

Adams writes that the best houses, in 1766, had 
" Turkey carpets, painted hangings, marble tables 
and rich damask curtains and counterpanes to the 
bed," etc. 3 

There was a garden, elaborately laid out, which 
ascended gradually behind the building to a charm- 
ing hill in the rear; a large nursery and orchard 
full of many kinds of delicious fruit, and orna- 
mental flower-beds bordered with box, some being 
of great size. From the summer house opens a 
capital prospect. An old chronicler describes it — 
" Smiling hills, and laughing vales, gently undu- 
lating." 

" The mall bordering the Common, ornamented 
with a treble range of trees," in front of the 
house, " and here the ladies and gentlemen resort 



DOROTHY QUINCY 145 

in summer." " The grounds on election and pub- 
lic days teem with multitudes of every descrip- 
tion and rank, who occupy themselves in various 
amusements." " On this commodious lawn, dif- 
ferent military corps perform their stated exer- 
cises." " In a word, if purity of air, extensive 
prospects, elegance and convenience united are al- 
lowed to have charms, this seat is scarcely sur- 
passed by any in the Union." 4 

Madam Hancock had filled the position of first 
lady during the rebel government. She was now 
to have a prominence in the Massachusetts com- 
monwealth that had never been accorded to any 
lady ; she was to be the head of one of the most 
elaborate and extensive establishments. 

In her father's house she had met men of talent 
and stability, but at her husband's there was to be 
an infinitely greater variety. Madam Hancock's 
personal attractions were enhanced by her beau- 
tiful toilettes. Her husband, who liked to see her 
elegantly attired, once ordered from Paris a heavy 
crimson Lyons velvet, which, on its reception, was 
decided to be entirely unsuited to her slender fig- 
ure, and it finally decorated that of Mr. John Han- 
cock. 

Though the lapse of years has somewhat im- 
paired Copley's flesh tints, yet we can more appro- 
priately picture Madam Hancock as he has por- 
trayed her, arrayed in a rose-colored gown, with 
transparent, figured muslin overskirt — a charm- 



i 4 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

ing contrast to the dark hair, rolled high, sur- 
mounted by a fancy head-dress ! 5 

With elbow resting on the tabic, the delicate 
fingers touch her cheek, a favorite attitude; per- 
haps a pardonable vanity to display a pretty hand 
and arm, with which, alas! time has played havoc 
and punished her by deepening the shadows, and 
leaving attenuated its once rounded contour ; 
which is, however, preserved in an unfinished like- 
ness of her, by Copley, formerly owned by her 
great-niece, Mrs. Woodbury, wife of the late 
Judge L. Woodbury, of the United States Su- 
preme Court. 

The latter is a full-length portrait of Madam 
Hancock, who is represented seated in an arm- 
chair, easily and naturally ; gowned in one of those 
dainty, filmy, white cobwebs of India, so choice 
and costly at that day; a muslin of soft and cling- 
ing texture, with no ornament save a figured black 
lace fichu simply crossed over the bust. The face 
is marred by a powdered, frizzed wig, low on the 
brow, a fashion not as becoming as her own dark 
tresses. The pose of the hand and arm are the 
same as in the smaller portrait. 

John Hancock, in a suit of brown velvet, stands 
at her side. 

There is still another oil color extant of Madam 
Hancock, taken when eighty years old, with stiff 
French puff's of hair around the brow, the mode 
then, and a cap of muslin with large crown and 




GOVERNOR AND MRS HANCOCK. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 147 

frill, bordered with ribbons. Her dress of plain 
black has a huge Elizabethian ruff that fills up the 
throat ; but the eyes that look out from that intelli- 
gent face are large and expressive, retaining some 
semblance to those that once captivated and looked 
admiringly on John Hancock. 

In Massachusetts, as in Philadelphia, Hancock's 
position laid on him large obligations of hospital- 
ity, which Madam Hancock dispensed with a deli- 
cate grace. 

Madam Hancock met in society many cultivated 
and agreeable men who visited this country, as 
well as diplomatic officials and travelers full of in- 
terest and curiosity in all that related to America. 
She listened unmoved to their courtly phrases and 
filled her role with a distinction that placed her 
without a rival. 

John Hancock was nearly six feet in height, 
with graceful and prepossessing manner. His 
apparel was of the richest kind, embroidered in 
silver, with lace, according to the dress of a gen- 
tleman of that date. 

He liked what was handsome, but not showy, 
and an order to London for his traveling carriage 
expressly stipulates " a very neat and light post- 
chaise or chariot, elegantly neat, not made expen- 
sive by external tawdry ornaments."" Many direc- 
tions are given for convenience, the seat to unship 
so that the coachman could sit on the box or ride 
postilion. Lamps on the carriage; a traveling 



M 8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

trunk, with strong lock and key ; a box inside the 
carriage to draw out, with good lock and key. 
" The ground paint of the carriage to be stone yel- 
low, that being the color all his carriages bear." 

This equipage in daily use, a writer says, was 
" noted for its brilliant plate-glass windows and 
handsome ornaments." 7 It was drawn by four bay 
horses, and on state occasions by six. 

He was not a man to offend with arrogance, or 
superciliousness; his marked traits were urbanity 
and kindliness, which the following incident ex- 
emplifies, among many others, related by Madam 
Hancock to her great-niece, Miss M. Quincy : 

Returning to town one day, in his phaeton, he 
noticed a woman toiling along overburdened by a 
huge bundle. The horses were reined in, for Han- 
cock to inquire where she was going. This poor 
washwoman, who was on her way to the town, he 
had helped into the open carriage and driven to 
her stopping place. 

It was these impulses of the heart that won the 
regard of his townsmen. 

Another instance will show that he also relieved 
those in his own walk of life. Once while driving 
with Madam Hancock he was startled at seeing 
Samuel Adams, his old friend, one of the patriots 
of the Revolution, walking with a sheriff beside 
him. 

" What is the meaning of this?" he inquired of 
Adams ; who replied : 



DOROTHY QU1NCY 149 

" I am going to jail, as I cannot satisfy the 
sheriff's demand." 

Mr. Hancock said he would see to that, and set- 
tle the account himself; so bade the sheriff leave 
his prisoner. 

When taking these drives with his wife nothing- 
escaped John Hancock for the betterment of his 
fellow-beings. Was there an unfinished church 
he inquired the cause, and at once assisted if funds 
were needed ; and it has been said, n His munifi- 
cence in the bosom of the Church was as proverb- 
ial as it was in forwarding the glory of the Re- 
public." 

On one occasion he gave to the poor of the town 
one hundred and fifty cords of wood, but, though 
his public gifts were known to the world, his and 
his wife's many private donations were known 
only to the few, and held sacred by the benefi- 
ciaries. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Bostonians Described— A Son Born— Letters to 
" Dolly " from Yorktown — John Hancock Re- 
turns to Boston — Marches to Rhode Island — 
Judge Quincy's Letter — French Fleet Off 
Sandy Hook — The Fleet Disabled— Lafayette 
Stands by D'Estaing. 

Brissot de Warville describes the Bostonians in 
1778 : " They unite simplicity of morals with that 
French politeness and delicacy of manners which 
render virtue more amiable. The young men here 
enjoy the liberty they do in England ; that they did 
in Geneva when morals were there, and the Repub- 
lic existed; and they do not abuse it." * * * "I 
have seen women of fifty with such an air of fresh- 
ness that they would not have been taken by an 
European for more than forty. Women of sixty 
and seventy are sparkling with health." 1 

On the 15th of May, Hancock and lady, with 
Mrs. Jefrry, arrived in town from a trip to New 
York; which was followed soon after by a glad- 
dening event to the Hancocks. 

One of the journals announced that in " Bos- 
ton, May 21, 1778, Lord's Day morning, the lady 
of the Hon. John Hancock. Esq., was safely deliv- 
ered of a son." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 151 

This boy was later baptized George Washing- 
ton, from Hancock's regard for the soldier and 
friendship for the man. 

Judge Quincy wrote to his daughter from Med- 
field and said : " Pray kiss my little Washington 
for me. I hope he may enjoy the fruits of his 
parents' patriotism." 2 

This little stranger was doubly welcome to take 
the place of the daughter that died. 

Hancock and Samuel Holton. Esq., who were 
two of the delegates from Massachusetts, in June 
departed for Yorktown, to join the Grand Con- 
gress, escorted by a detachment of American 
Light Dragoons. " They were attended by a num- 
ber of respectable gentlemen from this town to 
Watertown. where an elegant entertainment was 
provided." 

En route John Hancock's thoughts turn to the 
dear ones at home, and he writes from a tavern 
called Log Goal, in New Jersey, 270 miles from 
Boston, June 14, 1778, Sunday, 12 o'clock : 

" My Dear Dolly : 

" I wrote you this morning from Sussex Courthouse; 
have just got here, and, stopping an express hound to 
Boston for a moment, gives me the opportunity to let 
you know I am safe thus far. * * * I beg you to 
take care of your health beyond every other consider- 
ation." 

Which epistle ends with the usual warm ef- 
fusiveness : 



I5 a DOROTHY QUINCY 

"The express waits— can only add my most ardent 
wishes for your health, and every good ; and am, with 
the utmost love and affection, 

" Yours forever. 

" John Hancock." 3 
" Pray write me often and long letters." 

This sounds not like a cool lover, as he has 
been erroneously called, nor do any of his letters. 

He arrived at Yorktown. and, though they have 
been parted but a few days, is much disturbed at 
not hearing from his wife. Madam Hancock's 
time and thoughts were now absorbed by the 
newcomer in the family, and Hancock, inveighing 
over the neglect to himself, fails to comprehend 
that a baby calls for more attention than a hus- 
band ; nor could he realize that it was possible for 
anyone to come between his dear Dolly and him- 
self, and that the culprit was an innocent infant. 

He forwards another letter by Mr. Taylor, who 
was to sail for Paris with dispatches to the com- 
missioners, and says: 

" I embrace the opportunity of writing you, although 
I wrote you two letters the day before yesterday, and 
this is my seventh letter, and not one word have I 
heard from you since your departure from Boston. I 
am as well as the peculiar situation of this place will 
admit, but I can by no means, in justice to myself, con- 
tinue long under such disagreeable circumstances ; I 
mean in point of living. The mode is so very differ- 
ent from what I have been always accustomed to that 
to continue it long would prejudice my health exceed- 
ingly. 

" This moment the post arrived, and, to my very great 
surprise and disappointment, not a single line from 
Boston. I am not much disposed to resent, but it feels 



DOROTHY QUINCY 153 

exceedingly hard to be slighted and neglected by those 
from whom I have a degree of right to expect different 
conduct. I would have hired anyone to have sent a few 
lines just to let me know the state of your health ; but 
I must endeavor not to be so anxious, and be as easy as 
some others seem to be. I will expect no letters nor 
write any, and then there will be no disappointment. 
So much for that. 

" To be serious, I shall write no more till I hear from 
you ; this is agreeable to my former promise. It really 
is not kind, when you must be sensible that I must 
have been very anxious about you and the little one. 
Devote a little time to write me ; it will please me 
much to hear of you. I am sure you are disposed to 
oblige me, and I pray I may not be disappointed in my 
opinion of your disposition. 

" I hope this will meet you tolerably recovered from 
your late confinement. I wish to hear of your being 
below stairs and able to take care of our dear little one. 
* * * Do let me have frequent letters ; you will 
oblige me much. 

" My best wishes attend you for the highest felicity. 
and I am, with the utmost affection and love, 
" Yours forever, 

" John Hancock." 4 

Hancock returned to Boston July 27th, and the 
following month it was announced " that General 
Hancock's Independent Company, headed by the 
General in person, marches hence (Boston) to- 
morrow to join in the intended expedition against 
Rhode Island." 

Judge Quincy wrote from Medfield August 18. 
1778: 

" Mr. Hancock's patriotism has at length urged him 
into the field. * * * As I have had from ye begin- 
ning (tho' somewhat gloomy) full expectation of a glo- 
rious termination of ye seemingty unhappy contest in 
favor of these United States; as at this hour ye prospect 
advances, that all those who trouble our Israel will 



154 DOROTHY QUINCY 

in a little time be swept off our shores with ye Besom 
of destruction, unless they should timely prevent it by 
a suitable capitulation ; which God grant may be ye 
case, and thereby ye lives of our fellow creatures be 
spared. * * * I pray God to support you in his ab- 
sence and preserve ye health of both mother and son, 
whom I want to see. 

" With my most devout and best wishes, I remain, 
dear child. 

" Your most affectionate father, 

" Edmund Quincy." 5 

He writes again from Medfield, August 24th : 

" Since I wrote you last I have had ye pleasure of 
hearing divers times by returning men from Rhode Isl- 
and, etc., that General Hancock was there at the head 
of one of ye grand divisions of ye Americans, and that 
he was better in health than he could have expected to 
be; but, as you receive almost daily advices from him, 
I don't expect to be able to inform you of any circum- 
stances from ye vague accounts I receive, and have, 
therefore, only to say that, as it pleases God yet to 
excite Mr. Hancock's patriotic concern for his country, 
as well in the military as in ye civil department, I trust 
His gracious protection will be afforded him in and 
thro' every hour of difficulty and danger." 

In a letter October 12th he closes with, " Pray 
give my most tender regards to my daughter and 
her dear little general." 6 

Great importance was attached to the arrival of 
the French fleet, commanded by Count D'Estaing, 
which was expected to take part in the Rhode Isl- 
and campaign. Lafayette also had joined our 
troops. 

Before sailing for Rhode Island, whilst the 
squadron lay near Sandy Hook, August 10th, a 
rather startling incident occurred. " A marine 
officer, belonging to one of the ships, a Scotch- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 155 

man by birth, went on shore at Shewsbury. The 
inhabitants, finding that he spoke good English. 
crowded to converse with him. and told him how 
happy they were made by the arrival of the French 

Hcet. as they did not doubt their independence 
would be established by their co-operation. Where- 
at the Scotch officer, with a significant shake of 
the head, answered them that he believed they 
mistaken ; that he looked upon their inde- 
pendence only as a dream, for that France or 
Britain must have this country." 1 

The effect of such a speech can be better con- 
ceived than described. 

When the squadron appeared off the coast of 
Rhode [sland a violent storm arose, which raged 
into a tempest and ruinously shattered the fleet, 
so thai they were obliged to sail for Boston to 
" repair the lost masts " and other damages, and to 
replenish their provisions. 

i lure was loud-spoken indignation at the de- 
parture, hut D'Estaing asserted " that he had pos 
itive orders of the King, in case of any disaster, the 
squadron should rendezvous in the harbor of Bos- 
ton."" and his officers were unwilling to remain 
there disabled. 

Lafayette, who naturally did not join in the 
general outer} against his countrymen, hastened to 
Boston, where a strong and bitter feeling against 
the French had been arou - 

General Hancock expressed his indignation, as 
well as the other officers, " hut he consented to 



I5 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

return to Boston, to endeavor to calm the public 
mind, and obtain supplies for the squadron." 9 

That city had taken alarm at supplying a fleet 
from their stores, but, fortunately, the " New 
England cruisers had seized a number of provision 
vessels, so the wants of the French were well sup- 
plied, besides a surplus for their own market." 10 

The masts and lumber for the ships had to be 
transported from Portsmouth, which occasioned a 
long delay. 

Admiral D'Estaing clearly demonstrated the 
unfortunate state of his naval forces and equip- 
ments ; he offered to march himself with his 
troops. 

Lafayette, who was chagrined and much trou- 
bled, wrote to Washington explaining how desir- 
ous D'Estaing was to forward the public good, 
and help " your success, and to serve the cause of 
America." 

In his letter to Washington September ist he 
writes : " Lafayette and D'Estaing waited on the 
Council, General Heath and General Hancock, and 
were very well satisfied with them. The last one 
distinguished himself very much by his zeal." 12 

Hancock was ready to correct his first hasty 
judgment on the course of the French officer. 

Lafayette, in one of his letters to a friend in 
Paris, had written : " I hear nothing- here about 
kings nor ministers. They cherish and idolize 
only two mistresses, viz., Liberty and Fame." 13 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Hancocks Give a Breakfast to the French 
Officers — The Frenchmen Invite the Han- 
cocks — Indians Visit the Ship — The Constitu- 
tion of Massachusetts Formed — Ball to the 
French Officers — Hancock Gives Washing- 
ton's Portrait to Admiral D'Estaign — Pre- 
sents One to Lafayette. 

While the wheels of war were revolving those 
of pleasure were not stationary. Viscount de Beau- 
mont gave an entertainment on board the Patriote 
to the officials. Hancock was too sick to be pres- 
ent. The Frenchmen, waiting for the slow process 
of repairs, whiled away some hours accepting and 
reciprocating the invitations extended to them. 

They were frequent visitors at the Hancock- 
mansion, " some of the officers dining there every 
week." One day General Hancock, who had in- 
vited thirty of the officers of the fleet to breakfast, 
when the time approached, had to notify his wife 
to prepare for one hundred and twenty more. 

In those days there were no facilities of caterers 
and confectioners ; but it was summer, so carts and 
wagons were despatched into the surrounding 
country for the various fruits of the season; and 
orders were given to milk all the cows on the 



i 5 8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Common.. Madam Hancock notifying the servants 
that, if objections were raised, they should send 
any complainant to her and she would explain. 
But no complaints were made against this very 
popular couple. 

Madam Hancock was at her parlor window, 
and beheld all the officers of the fleet, including 
midshipmen, entering the opposite end of the 
mall. She said that, in the brilliant sun, the whole 
Common looked " dedizzened with gold lace ;" and 
the glitter from the dazzling uniforms made one 
of the finest sights she had ever seen. 1 

When they reached the house Madam Hancock 
stood ready to receive them, with a manner that 
was distinctive of their court at home. They were 
most appreciative of the delicacies of the table. 
and " ate voraciously. One of them drank seven- 
teen cups of tea." The midshipmen were thought- 
lessly reckless in celebrating their freedom from 
shipboard ; they made prize of the cake in the hall, 
as the servants passed through, who went to Ma- 
dam Hancock in dismay. She ordered it put into 
buckets and covered with napkins ; thus it escaped 
capture by these ravenous boys. They next 
strayed into the garden, and made sad havoc with 
the fruit trees, for which Count D'Estaing after- 
wards apologized. The guard on the Common 
were also liberally provided with luncheon. 

Madam Hancock describes Count D'Estaing as 
a very polished gentleman ; and, like a courtly 



DOROTHY QUINCY 159 

Frenchman, on his return to Paris he sent a beau- 
tiful fan to Madam 1 [ancock. 

The officers reciprocated the hospitality by an 
entertainment on board ship, and Madam Han- 
given [hr prn i! ge of naming the guests. 
She had the seat of honor at table, where her 
curiosity was excited by a large ribbon rosette 
to the right hand. This mystery remained 
unsolved until the moment when toasts were 
given. The Admiral then requested her to raise 
the ribbons, which had been fastened to a rope 
under the table. When Madam Hancock complied 
she fired a signal gun, which started a general 
salute from all the guns of the fleet. " She was 
Startled alike out of her official dignity and per- 
gonal propriety 1>\ the deafening peal of artillery 
that immediately and unexpectedly ensued." \u<\ 

aid, " the) were stunned by the noise and en- 
ped in smoke." 
The salute had been a distinguished honor paid 
to her. 

Those not near the field of battle, not brought 
into contact with " grim-visaged war.'* realize iittle 
and it may be wisely condoned if. 
ing in gloom, soul-stirring gaiety is 
encouraged while cannon boom. 
General Washington, in 1778. at camp in New 
• gaged in dances, dinners and amuse- 
ments, which also took place at other headquar- 



i6o DOROTHY QUINCY 

November 12th a number of Indian chiefs and 
delegates from the Penobscot and Nova Scotia 
tribes visited the French fleet. Admiral D'Estaing 
received them on board the Lauguedoc, and they 
were treated with marked civility. " He bestowed 
handsome presents, and gratified them with a par- 
ticular view of the ships, at which they expressed 
great admiration, and departed highly satisfied. "- 
The Indians were as curious objects of study, 
probably to D'Estaing and his officers as his ships 
had been to the red men. 

It must not be supposed that the time of the 
Frenchmen was given over entirely to pleasure. 
A Boston letter in a New York paper of Septem- 
ber 3d relates that, besides repairing damages. 
D'Estaing had erected very formidable works on 
George's Island, " in which we hear he has mount- 
ed near a hundred cannon of heavy metal, which 
he took from his fleet for protection from the 
enemy." 

The British in New York circulated their detri- 
mental stories of the Admiral. They reported that 
he had seized one of the churches and converted it 
into a " popish chapel," where mass was cele- 
brated, and that this caused " unspeakable mur- 
murings among all the conscientious people of the 
place." 3 

Washington they outrageously villified ; ridicu- 
lously asserting : " Those who have served under 



DOROTHY QUINCY 161 

him declare that he keeps at more than a safe dis- 
tance in the rear." 4 

One can form an idea from this what confidence 
is to be placed in their reports. 

General Hancock was elected a member of the 
convention to form a constitution for the Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts. 

Madam Hancock continued to sustain her high 
position without a word of criticism to mar the 
unison of their home. It has been said that 
" Madam Hancock gratified the ambition of her 
husband, in presiding with so much graceful ease 
at his hospitable board, and in the social circle 
that her presence ever infused an enlivening 
charm." 5 

Throngs of handsome women and brilliant men 
gathered at the Hancock mansion on all state fes- 
tivals ; and it is chronicled that General Hancock 
gave a superb ball, before the departure of the 
fleet, at Concord Hall, " at which were present 
His Excellency Count D'Estaing and a number of 
officers belonging to the French fleet. There were 
upwards of a hundred of the principal ladies of the 
town present, who, being richly and elegantly 
dressed, added a most enchanting brilliancy to the 
evening, and in the eyes of their countrymen, at 
least, gave no bad specimen of American female 
grace and beauty." 6 

Such cordiality towards the French must have 
softened the feeling engendered by the censures 
first launched against them. This was the occa- 



i6n DOROTHY QUINCY 

sion, I think, when the invitations were printed on 
playing cards, none other being then imported. 

General Hancock, to cement still further the 
bonds and the amicable feelings, gave to the Ad- 
miral a full length portrait of George Washing- 
ton. He had it placed in the centre of the upper 
side of the room, and the frame covered with 
laurels, at a dinner given " on board the Laugue- 
doc to a company of gentlemen and ladies." 7 

These fair dames were giving warm welcome to 
our allies and receiving courtesies from them in 
return. Those of Philadelphia were extending a 
friendly hand and feasting the British officers. 

Lafayette was also to be the recipient of a por- 
trait, and he wrote to Washington, *' Give me joy, 
my dear General. I intend to have your picture, 
and Mr. Hancock has promised me a copy of that 
he has in Boston. * * * He gave one to the 
Count D'Estaing, and I never saw a man so glad 
at possessing his sweetheart's picture as the Ad- 
miral was to receive yours." 8 

Hancock certainly was endowed with the art of 
giving. 

Finally the adieux were made, and in Novem- 
ber the French fleet set sail from Boston for the 
West Indies, as it was reported that Lord Byron, 
with the English fleet and transports, had started 
for those islands. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Letter to George Washington, Esq. — The Two 
Patriots Alienated — Voltaire — Proposals of 
Peace Through Franklin — Franklin's Reply- 
Criticisms of John Hancock — His Entertain- 
ing Under Difficulties. • 

England continued her parliamentary wrangles, 
and continued forwarding troops to America. She 
had no respect for our generals. Had not Howe 
sent a letter to the Commander-in-Chief and ad- 
dressed it to " George Washington, Esq.," the 

bearer of which said to Colonel R that he had 

a letter for " Mr. Washington ;" to which the 
Colonel replied there was no such person in the 
Army, and returned it. England had summed up 
our troops as " renegade Britons and French sol- 
diers of fortune, with Germans intermixed.'' 1 Nor 
did she understand her late subjects, strong in 
their fealty until the iron hand of taxes and injus- 
tice shook their allegiance, and aroused the spirit 
of discontent and revolt. 

During the year 1778, while Samuel Adams 
was absent in Philadelphia, a break was made in 
his friendship with John Hancock. By skilful and 
continuous perversions their enemies succeeded in 
again embittering them against each other. Adams 



164 DOROTHY QUINCY 

once threw off inquirers by saying, " A trifling 
tale " 2 was the cause of the breach. 

Why should there have been ill-feeling at any 
time between these men? Both endowed with 
forceful courage; both working for liberal prin- 
ciples ; both entitled to their meed of praise. These 
two men of granite, firm and immovable in their 
patriotism. We look at one, in his native strength, 
as we admire a huge boulder ; grand, without or- 
nament or accessory, superbly picturesque in its 
place. The other, a polished block of stone, 
equally solid and of equal service, but of another 
order of value. 

In 1779 Fox boldly launched forth thus, 
" Though Boston was to be starved; though Han- 
cock and Adams were proscribed, yet at the feet 
of these very men the Parliament of Great Britain 
were obliged to kneel, to flatter, to cringe; and, 
as they had the cruelty at one time to denounce 
vengeance against these men, so they had the 
meanness afterwards to prostrate themselves be- 
fore them and implore their forgiveness." 3 

The Confederacy was still in a state of agita- 
tion; war had been carried into the South, and 
was waged on land and sea, where Paul Jones 
was making a name for himself. 

The press fired its shots at the mother country, 
and one paper had an article headed. " Old Eng- 
land's Last Will." It was signed. " Cruelty, 
Blindness, Obstinacy." 4 



DOROTHY QUINCY 165 

The new States were not without their admir- 
ers abroad. Dr. Franklin, who was traveling in 
Europe with his grandson, paid a visit to Vol- 
taire, and during the course of conversation 
asked what he thought of the American Confed- 
eracy. The poet replied he had so good an opinion 
that, had it taken place forty years ago, he would 
have established himself in such a free country. 

While still on the continent Franklin was the 
recipient of a letter from one Charles de Weissen- 
stein, evidently an assumed name, who was a secret 
agent from England, to secure Franklin's assist- 
ance in some kind of proposition for peace. 

He urged as an argument the impossibility that 
England should ever acknowledge the independ- 
ence of the colonies, and said : " Should Parlia- 
ment be induced to do it, the people of England 
would not approve it, and posterity would never 
submit to it," etc. 

He then proceeds at much length to state the 
" Plan of Reconciliation." * * * " That, as 
some American gentlemen have taken conspicu- 
ous public part, and as it is unreasonable that their 
services to their country should deprive them of 
those advantages, which their talents would other- 
wise have gained them, the following persons shall 
have offices, or pensions for life, at their option, 
namely, Franklin. Washington, Adams, Hancock, 
etc. In case His Majesty, or his successors, should 
ever create American peers, then those persons, or 



166 DOROTHY QUINCY 

their descendants shall be among the first created 
if they chose it." 

There was not much encouragement in Frank- 
lin's plain-spoken reply, from which I take a few 
extracts. It is dated Passy, July 1st, 1778: " We 
have too much land to have the least temptation 
to extend our territory by conquest from peace- 
able neighbors, as well as too much justice to think 
of it. * * * Our militia, you find by experience, 
are sufficient to defend our lands from invasion ; 
and the commerce with us will be defended by all 
nations who find an advantage in it ; we, therefore, 
have not the occasion you imagine of fleets or 
standing armies, but may leave those expensive 
machines to be maintained for the pomp of princes 
and the wealth of ancient states. We propose, if 
possible to live in peace with all mankind. * * * 
We suspected before that you would not be actu- 
ally bound by your conciliatory acts longer than 
till they had served their purpose of inducing us 
to disband our forces. * * * We ought to have 
the least confidence in your offers, promises, or 
treaties, though confirmed by Parliament." 5 

John Adams wrote to Gerry of a similar propo- 
sition that was made to him, and also to Lee, 
evidently emanating from the British ministry. 
They also offered that the Americans should be 
governed by a congress of American peers, created 
and appointed by the King." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 167 

How little the}- appreciated or understood the 
integrity of these men, invulnerable to proffers of 
rank and title ; native peers in their own right, 
carved by their own patriotic deeds from high re- 
solves and aims. 

Hancock, too, when approached by the emis- 
saries of Lord North, the Prime Minister, had 
preferred country and principles to sinecures. 6 

Madam Hancock was of a different organiza- 
tion from her husband and her heart beat with 
indignation at the unjust accusations, or false 
statements, promulgated by his opponents. She 
keenly felt the nettle-stings and petty abuse direct- 
ed against him, instigated by British satellites and 
sympathizers. 

John Adams has said that " Popularity, next to 
virtue and wisdom, ought to be aimed at; for it is 
the dictate of wisdom." Yet " it was brought 
against John Hancock that he loved popularity." 7 

Where is to be found the man in public life who 
avoids it ? Political hostility carped at the wealth 
which he prodigally expended on others instead of 
selfishly hoarding. It was an offense that he trav- 
eled with a guard. Was it not a necessity, with a 
price set upon his head? 

President Lincoln was a target for censure dur- 
ing the Civil War because of the precaution taken 
to have mounted soldiers stationed at the gates of 
the White House. 



i68 DOROTHY QUINCY 

The times were stormy and engendered stormy 
expressions inimical to Hancock, and " his acts 
were perverted, his motives misjudged," while he 
was striving to aid his country and countrymen. 
This unfriendliness extended even to 1810, when 
Rev. John Eliot, in Boston, speaking of his " New 
England Biographical Dictionary," related that 
several gentlemen in Boston, Federalists, said 
" they would not have subscribed to the book had 
they seen what Mr. Eliot had said of Samuel 
Adams and John Hancock." 8 

To evince their confidence and esteem, those 
who knew and believed in General Hancock, se- 
lected him as their first Governor with an over- 
whelming voice. What a roseate and golden sky 
was this in the horizon of Madam Hancock ! And 
whenever he consented to be a candidate her hus- 
band was chosen to that office by an undisputed 
majority. 9 

Though into the life of Madam Hancock came 
occasional shadows, yet it was brilliant with many 
matchless, radiant days ; and it cannot be said that 
she led " a life with nothing to color or embellish 
it." 

The Hancocks were indefatigable in giving 
pleasure to others; Governor Hancock spared no 
trouble for his guests, sending even fifty miles for 
delicacies, despite the rough and slow transporta- 
tion of that time. In later years they laid in liberal 
supplies for emergencies, and once had one hun- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 169 

dred and fifty live turkeys shut up, which by day 
were let out to feed in the pasture. 

He wrote to Henry Quincy, at Providence, 
August 30, 1779, that he was expecting " the am- 
bassadors " to dine with him on Wednesday, and 
said, " I have nothing to give them, from the pres- 
ent prospect of our market. I must beg the favor 
of you to recommend to my man Harry where he 
can get chickens, ducks, geese, ham, partridges 
and mutton, or anything that will save my repu- 
tation in a dinner, and by all means some butter." 
He also asks for " good melons or peaches." 10 

The guests referred to were probably Chevalier 
de la Luzerne, Minister from France ; M. de Val- 
nais, the French Consul ; M. de Chavagnes, cap- 
tain in the Royal French Navy, and others of dis- 
tinction, who visited Harvard at this time, Sep- 
tember 2, 1779. 

He concludes his letter : " I am now preparing 
my house for the celebration of a wedding this 
night. I have four sets to marry, and propose that 
they should stand at the four corners of the room 
and take it all at once; they are willing, but not 
ready." 

Madam Hancock had a pretty refined niece, 
daughter of Henry Quincy, and in one of Gover- 
nor Hancock's letters to him he writes : " Miss 
Eunice was under promise to aid me in the gout, 
but she has failed me. I shall have another touch 
in a few days designedly to make her perform her 



i 7 o DOROTHY QUINCY 

promise; but, to be serious, when Mrs. Quincy 
can spare her, and Miss Eunice has an inclination 
to spend two or three weeks at my house, I will 
send for her. I have a design upon her not to her 
injury, but she is my favorite, and I intend to get 
her a good husband. I expect an answer from 
Miss Eunice, under her own hand ; she may write 
to a married man." 

Miss Eunice may have inherited some of the 
personal attractions of her father, who, when 
twenty-eight years old, was called " the handsom- 
est man in Boston." 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Eunice Quincy — Her Marriage — Reception in 
France — Marie Antoinette, Godmother — De 
Valnais' Exile — Returns to Boston — Lafay- 
ette Arrives in America — Extracts from His 
Letters. 

Miss Eunice Quincy made the visit to Boston, 
and there met Monsieur de Valnais, the French 
Consul, who, on his arrival in the country, had 
been spoken of in the highest terms. 1 

He became deeply enamored with this captivat- 
ing young girl, and asked her hand in marriage. 
Her parents, and the Hancocks, would probably 
have preferred a selection from one of their own 
countrymen, in order to retain her near them ; but 
the decrees of fate ruled otherwise. 

The wedding took place after six months' court- 
ship, and two years later Monsieur de Valnais was 
recalled to France. In one of Madame de Valnais' 
letters to her mother she wrote, February 2, 1784, 
of their kind reception at court; and that they had 
many friends, who took much notice of them both 
in a public and private way. They had dined with 
Lafayette, who gave, every Monday, a dinner to 
Americans. She says: " I have spent five weeks 
with Monsieur de Valnais' friends, who treated 



i 72 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

me like a princess. * * * All the French who 
have ever been in America throng here." 2 

In 1786, when a child was born, Marie Antoin- 
ette was the godmother and sent a baby outfit for 
the infant. 

In her letter from Paris, February 9, 1786, she 
tells how Lafayette was exerting all power and 
influence at court, which was not small ; and 
writes : " I dined with the Count D'Estaing the 
day before yesterday, who speaks incessantly 
of Mr. Hancock, and said he would write to him. 
* * * He is so fond of us that he comes and 
sees us without any ceremony." 

Monsieur de Valnais wrote to Governor Han- 
cock, September, 1786: " * * * Your condol- 
ing with me in the various disappointments I have 
experienced from the court of France, has in great 
measure alleviated the burthen of the incredible 
scenes I have passed through since my departure 
from North America. Patience and resignation 
is my lot. The King has granted a pension to Mme. 
de Valnais, and, though it is a small one, still it is 
looked on here as very honorable. Many powerful 
friends are wishing me well." 

Later Monsieur de Valnais " was pursued by 
the emissaries of Robespierre." " Fright and 
agony of mind fatally affected the health of his 
wife," and, after her loss, one misfortune followed 
another. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 173 

Monsieur de Valnais wrote to Madam Hancock, 
in 1793, from Paris. Again he wrote in 1798, be- 
fore he went into exile with his daughter and son, 
residing in Italy and in England until the restora- 
tion. He spoke of his misfortune in losing Ma- 
dame de Valnais, and referred gracefully and af- 
fectionately to her family in Boston. 3 He said: 
" Be assured I never have nor ever will forget 
North America. My friends in that country will 
ever be the dearest objects to me in the world." 

Madame de Valnais had hoped to return to 
America some day to see her relatives. There was 
a tender spot in her heart for her early friends ; a 
strong current of feeling towards those who had 
held her girlhood confidences ; who had seen her 
step buoyantly out into that world of rainbow hues 
and promises — that bewildering world, sparkling 
like the diamond, which later she found had the 
diamond's hardness. 

The revolving wheel of fortune returned Mar- 
quis de Valnais to Boston as consul in 1816, and 
he brought with him his daughter. 

An entry in the diary of Miss Eunince Quincy 
has an account of the dinner her mother gave to 
the de Valnais' : " Miss de Valnais wore a plain 
India muslin, edged with thread-lace, a blue belt 
and ribbons ; a lady in dress and manner. She 
expressed great interest in looking at the old por- 
traits. She speaks English correctly, though not 
very fluentlv. I never saw anvone who had so 



i 74 DOROTHY QUINCY 

much simplicity in manner, though fashionable in 
appearance." 4 

" A comfortable sinecure was given to Marquis 
<le Valnais; and at his death Calista retired to a 
convent." 

Lafayette, to whom Congress, when asked, had 
granted unlimited leave of absence, as his own 
country was then at war, now returned to Boston 
and aroused transports of enthusiasm. Crowds 
ran to the shore and received him with loud ac- 
clamations. He was carried in triumph to the 
house of Governor Hancock, from whence he set 
out for headquarters. 

A gentleman, who later arrived at Boston in a 
French frigate, related that the Marquis de la 
Fayette, when he took leave at the French court, 
was dressed in his American uniform. The par- 
ticular attachment of the Marquis to America led 
him to the choice of this dress on the occasion, 
and the King paid a delicate compliment to his 
new allies in this indulgence ; it being an unusual 
thing for a French nobleman to appear at court in 
a foreign uniform. 5 

One of Lafayette's letters home contains this 
tribute : ' The American women are very pretty, 
have great simplicity of character; and the ex- 
treme neatness of their appearance is truly de- 
lightful. Cleanliness is everywhere even more stu- 
diously attended to here than in England." 6 



DOROTHY QUINCY 175 

These were the pleasing impressions made by 
our revolutionary dames. 

In another letter he wrote: " The inhabitants 
are as agreeable as my enthusiasm had led me to 
imagine. Simplicity of manner, kindness of heart, 
love of country and of liberty, and a delightful 
state of equality, are met with universally." 7 

He reproached an Anglican minister in Boston 
with speaking only of Heaven. The following 
Sunday he went again to hear him, and the words 
in his discourse, of " the execrable house of Han- 
over," proved the docility of the minister. And 
Lafayette adds, " Republicanism breathed also 
from the pulpit." 

The Marquis was most careful not to give of- 
fense, and wrote to Duke D'Ayen, 1777: " I will 
not talk much for fear of saying foolish things. I 
will still less risk acting much for fear of doing 
foolish thing's." 8 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

John Hancock Elected Governor — His Popular- 
ity — Hancock Entertainments — Foreigners' 
Impressions of Boston — Judge Quincy Hears 
from Esther and Her Son — His Replies. 

The constitution of the commonwealth was 
formed September, 1779, and John Hancock ap- 
pointed Governor. In his inaugural address he 
says : "A due observance of the Lord's Day is 
not only important to internal religion, but greatly 
conducive to the order and benefit of civil society. 
It speaks to the senses of mankind, and, by a sol- 
emn cessation from their common affairs, reminds 
them of a deity and their accountableness to the 
great Lord of all." 

And this was the guide of both Hancock and his 
wife throughout their lives. 

After Hancock was elected the announcement 
was made from the balcony of the State House to 
the crowd below, who received it with vehement 
shouts of joy. The militia fired, and the cannon 
from the Castle, the artillery and the shipping in 
the harbor joined in with their salvos. " Then the 
Governor, the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives attended divine service at the Old Brick- 
Meeting-house." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 177 

John Hancock was annually chosen Governor 
until 1785, when illness obliged him to resign. 
On regaining health, in 1787, he was again called 
to the office, which he held until his death, 1793. 
Hancock's administration was highly commended, 
and there was great unanimity of opinion as to his 
efficient rule. I give a few extracts : 

" When Massachusetts, parting the last tie that 
bound her to colonial vassalage, shaped out the 
largest liberty-wise laws for her future guidance, 
she selected Hancock for her chief, and annually, 
while he lived, repeated this mark of her confi- 
dence and grateful affection. "- 

" On assuming the chair his language was man- 
ly and decisive, and, by his moderation and lenity, 
the civil convulsion was completely quieted, with 
out the shedding of blood, by the hands of the Civil 
Magistrate." 3 

'' Perhaps no man in the commonwealth had 
talents better fitted to maintain the tranquillity of 
society and the necessary authoritv to the Govern- 
ment, when he took the chair." 4 

There was a current of restlessness pervading 
Massachusetts, and Madam Hancock saw her hus- 
band harassed at the excited state of the populace. 
Though his sympathies were with them, when in 
contact with the people he did nothing to inflame 
their wrath. He calmed their outbursts ; cooled 
the heat of the most hot-headed. He strengthened 
those of weak heart, and, with it all, he worked for 



i 7 8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

order, which was always his aim. Passion was not 
to lead, but the slower pace of conviction. 

The Hancock house was thronged with visitors, 
and from all stations of life they were welcome at 
his table — titled nobleman and humble citizen ; the 
gay, and the serious. Here gathered the wits of 
the day, their sparkling scintillations a relief after 
the hours of heavy work ; and the smooth, old 
wines incited and stimulated the jeux d' esprit. 

Madam Hancock was present at most of the 
Governor's entertainments, which lent a refined 
tone, and accorded with Hancock's own taste. She 
did the honors, with quiet affability, and was emi- 
nently qualified for the new position. Many gentle 
acts of kindness were unobtrusively extended, and 
her consideration of others was shown, after the 
capture of Burgoyne, " by extending her courte- 
sies to the ladies of his army while at Cambridge, 
under the treaty with Gates. They were grate- 
fully received by the fair Britons and ever remem- 
bered." 5 

Numerous travelers published their impressions 
of Boston at this period. The Marquis de Chastel- 
leux. Major-General under Count Rochambeau, 
pronounced the women as having " elegance and 
refinement and also, as being well dressed, and, 
in general, good dancers, though the men were 
very awkward, especially in the minuet." 6 

We have the Frenchman's impressions of Gov- 
ernor Hancock when he says : " Had a long con- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 179 

versation with him, in which I easily discovered 
that energy of character which had enabled him to 
act so distinguished a part in the present revolu- 
tion." He designates him, " Mr. Hancock, that 
martyr to the public cause." 7 

Another Frenchman dilates thus : " These 
dames were most extravagant in their dress, and 
appeared at church in the finest of silks — over- 
shadowed with a profusion of the most superb 
plumes. The hair of the head is raised and sup- 
ported upon cushions to an extravagant height." 8 

The following verdict is from another pen: 
" Families are happy, and they are pure because 
they are happy. 7 ' 

A Frenchman, aide to General Rochambeau, 
puts his views into print. Boston, he thinks " ex- 
tremely pretty," and before the war it must have 
been a " charming residence." " The inhabitants 
dine at two o'clock. In the afternoon at 
five o'clock, tea is again taken, Madeira wine 
and punch ; this ceremony lasting until ten 
o'clock, when they go again to table and take a 
supper, somewhat less considerable than the din- 
ner. At each meal the cloth is removed, the des- 
sert is served, and fruit is brought. They live ab- 
solutely in the English manner." 

In his diary he notes, May 7th : " The morning I 
landed, and my first care, after having called upon 
the Consul of France, was to have him present 
me to the famous Mr. Hancock, Governor of Bos- 
ton." But, having no command of the English 



i8o DOROTHY QU1NCY 

language, he hoped to meet Hancock again before 
leaving the country to have some conversation, 
when he could " form an opinion of his intellectual 
powers," and to judge for himself of what he had 
heard concerning him. 1 ' 

This officer, after he had joined the Army, re- 
turned to Boston to hunt up his missing luggage, 
and went to Cambridge to take a look at Harvard. 
He writes: " The night caught me at a mile or 
so from the town, and I was not a little surprised 
to see the two meadows on the sides of the road I 
was riding upon covered with sparks of fire, ex- 
tending from the surface of the ground to some 
five or six feet above. I at first ascribed it to the 
extreme heat of the last five days, but I hardly 
knew what to think when, all at once, 1 saw* some 
which seemed to come out of the road upon which 
t was. I saw r them even on the ground, and all 
around me. I got down suddenly from my horse 
to pick up one of these sparks, which seemed to 
me so extraordinary, and I could not have more 
astonishment by anything than I was, at finding 
in my hand a sort of fly, which threw out a great 
light. This insect is in this country called the 
fire-fly." 

Judge Ouincy received letters from his daughter 
Esther (Mrs. Sewell), and many precautions were 
taken to prevent their interception. Esther's warm 
nature turned to her old home, where each mem- 
ber was held in affection, and there is the unre- 
strained, irrepressible longing to see them; the 




EDMUND QUINCY IV. 
(Father of Dorothy Quincy. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 181 

sigh to return ; to meet once more. Her father 
deeply touched, pours out words of comfort, and 
writes: '* Nevertheless, I am happy in being able 
to say that your brothers and sisters, with myself 
will, with open hearts and arms, receive and em- 
brace both you and yours." 10 

Then he speaks sadly of his old age, and that he 
may not have that happiness. But how his heart 
must have pined to see again his brilliant, absent 
daughter ! 

Esther trained up her sons to regard with af- 
fection their distant relatives, and her boy of ten 
years writes to his grandfather a long letter, which 
showed a carefully and wonderfully developed 
mind. One can figure the sensitive Judge perus- 
ing it, wiping the moisture from his glasses, as 
tears of sorrow and of joy cloud his eyes. 

He writes to his " Dear Daughter," June 19, 
[781: 

" * * * I have also received one other letter from 
my agreeable grandson Stephen, which comes as from 
ye dead. : However, upon discovering the truth, 

I was the more joyous that a grandson, supposed to be- 
dead, was alive, and from the specimen of his epis- 
tolary abilities I promise myself a continuance of his 
filial regards of a similar nature, and should the next 
be either in French or Latin, it will enhance ye value 
and oblige me to answer in specie. * * * I observe 
your kind wishes to see ye days of peace return, that 
you might have again ye pleasure of seeing ye friends 
in ye land of ye nativity. I assure you those wishes are 
echoed back from hence with similar warmth. Until 
the blessed period arrives, which may open a door of 
hope, let us thankfully improve ye great favor of our 
reciprocal abilities of communicating our ideas more 
than 3000 miles,'" 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Huston in 1781 — Madam Hancock Visits Ports- 
mouth — Hancock's Efforts for the People — 
Surrender of Cornwallis — Madam Hancock's 
Kindness to the Sick — Reception to Rocham- 
beau — Hancock's Mode of Living — Madam 
Hancock on Commencement Day — Hancock as 
Peace-Maker. 

Boston, which in 1781, had recovered from the 
havoc of the siege, is thus portrayed by Abbe 
Robins, a chaplain in the French Army : " A mag- 
nificent prospect of houses, built on a curved line, 
;md extending afterwards into a semi-circle above 
half a league. * * * These edifices, which 
were lofty and regular, with spires and cupolas 
intermixed at proper distances, did not seem to us 
a modern settlement so much as an ancient city, 
enjoying all the embellishments of population that 
never fail to attend on commerce and the arts. 
* * The form and construction of the houses 
would surprise an European eye." 1 

Madam Hancock made occasional visits from 
this attractive city to her niece, residing in Ports- 
mouth, N. H. Her little son accompanied her, a 
graceful boy, who danced at one of the Governor's 
entertainments, and was much complimented by 



DOROTHY QUINCY 183 

the guests. She traveled in a coach drawn by four 
horses, with two outriders, postilion, coachman, 
footman, servants in livery and seven horses. They 
were two days making this trip of sixty miles. 
But it had once taken a fortnight to go from the 
North to Philadelphia. 

Madam Hancock relates that on that occasion 
they stopped over for rest at a village, and she 
found her horses so jaded the next day that they 
could not continue the journey. Investigating the 
cause, it was discovered they had been used during 
the night for a pleasure excursion in honor of St. 
Patrick. 2 

Governor Hancock was a steadfast friend and 
defender of the colored race. They annually 
marched in front of his house, when he addressed 
them from the balcony. He presented " a silk flag, 
on which were the initials of J. H. and G. W.." 
to a company of colored soldiers called " The 
Bucks of America." 3 

For the relief of the poor he gave the free use of 
his extensive wood lot in the town of Milton. 4 

To amuse the people " he instituted the playing 
of music, at his own expense on the Common, in 
front of his house." 5 

This is an instance of their appreciation of his 
thoughtfulness and attachment to him : When he 
came out of the State House one day, to enter the 
carriage in which his wife was waiting, the pop- 
ulace commenced to unharness the horses, with 



184 DOROTHY QUINCY 

the purpose of drawing the carriage themselves. 
Four hundred men had already formed in proces- 
sion for that purpose. The Governor was greatly 
overcome by this demonstration of public respect, 
but. feeling ill at the time, requested his wife to 
speak to the crowd from the carriage window ; to 
tell them that he was overwhelmed by the honor 
they desired to confer upon him and gratefully 
acknowledged the kind feelings that prompted the 
act ; but, in his weak state, he begged them to let 
the horses take him home. ,; 

Governor Hancock gave to Massachusetts his 
time, his money, his thought. What was given 
him in return? A countless number of warm 
hearts, evincing their affection whenever he ap- 
peared, and. while he lived, retaining him as their 
ruler. 

In October, 1781, came the surrender of Corn- 
wallis. The Providence Gazette states that, imme- 
diately after the news was promulgated by Gover- 
nor Hancock, " Every token of joy was expressed 
by the good people of Boston. The bells of the 
various churches were ringing through the greater 
part of the day, and with as merry a peal as we 
have heard since they rung the departure of 
Francis Bernard. The ships in the harbor, both 
French and American, were adorned with the full 
display of colors of almost all nations. The field 
pieces of the town and the cannon from the ships 
were also warmly employed in proclaiming the 



DOROTHY QUINCY 185 

general joy. On the houses were hoisted the re- 
spective flags of France, Spain and America. But 
the most agreeable signs on the occasion were the 
faces of our fellow-citizens. They were all (a 
wretched few exceptions) the emblems of triumph- 
ant freedom." 7 

In every home there prevailed a feeling of relief 
that this was to terminate the war; seven long 
years of intense suffering and solicitude had 
brought its results. It was truly a grand occa- 
sion for rejoicing, though the British still held 
New York, Charleston and Savannah. A joyous 
jubilee must have resounded through that old 
colonial home — exultations of triumph under the 
Hancock roof, where the Governor, with his lady, 
were thrilled with as earnest, hearty emotion as 
any guest present. What, if one member of Par- 
liament had hurled his abuse at Americans, " call- 
ing their opposition the war of Hancock and his 
crew," 8 he could now be pardoned the scoff! 

Madam Hancock continued her humane work. 
Lavishly extending her hospitality to those in 
health, she was equally considerate of those who 
suffered. 

John Trumbull, after fighting for his country, 
had turned his attention to art, in which he became 
famous. He was very ill in Boston, and Governor 
Hancock went at once to see him, though there had 
been some friction between them at one time. 



186 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Trumbull wrote of the visit: " With great kind- 
ness he insisted that 1 should be removed to his 
house immediately, where, if my illness should be- 
come serious, I could be more carefully attended 
than was possible in a boarding-house. I made 
light of my illness, and, with many thanks, de- 
clined his pressing invitation." 9 

Boston kept up a continuous ebullition of excite- 
ment, either from war and its effect or festivities 
and rejoicings, of which the Hancocks were the 
centre and potential movers. In December, 1782, 
we find there one of the grandest pageants of the 
period, given to Count Rochambeau and his forces. 
On the nth of the month, Governor Hancock and 
Council gave a banquet to the Marquis de Vau- 
dreuil and officers of the fleet. John Paul Jones 
was one of the guests. 10 

Governor Hancock, who kept open house for 
his friends, had every morning a large bowl of 
punch made, as was the custom in the best fam- 
ilies, and placed in a cooler. The delicacies of the 
season were always to be found on his table, and, 
as Madam Hancock said to her niece later in life, 
"The Governor's hobby was his dinner table;" 
and she continued her interest in it to the close of 
her days. 

Hancock liked everything of silver, and his din- 
ner table was resplendent with its mass of silver 
dishes, silver candlesticks, cut-glass, fine china 
and other decorations. " There was a silver tank- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 187 

ard to hold hot punch that he called Solomon 
Townsend, in honor of a friend ; and a large porter 
cup, holding two quarts or more, with massive 
handles." 11 

A writer tells us of Hancock's scarlet coat, with 
ruffles on the sleeves, that he at times wore. This 
met with its meed of approbation and appreciation, 
and soon became a prevailing fashion. 

It is related of Dr. Nathan Jacques, the famous 
pedestrian of West Newbury, that he passed all 
the way from that place to Boston, in one day, to 
procure cloth for a coat like that of John Hancock, 
and returned with it under his arm on foot. 12 

Madam Hancock tells her niece that the life of 
Governor's lady had its onerous duties as well as 
its pleasures. When there was a commencement at 
Harvard the Governor was escorted by the Boston 
Cadets, who for a number of years breakfasted 
with him on that morning at a very early hour. 
This obliged Madam Hancock to summon her 
hair-dresser at four o'clock in order that she might 
be promptly in readiness, which made a day of 
great fatigue. 

Governor Hancock is described, in 1782, as still 
continuing his " handsome style of dress and gra- 
cious manner of dignified complaisance." 13 

His conciliatory efforts were again called into 
requisition, as a bitter feeling had existed before 
the war between the north and south-enders of 
the town on " Pope's day," November 5th, the 



i88 DOROTHY QUINCY 

anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. This was 
not only shown in private transactions, but in 
" public and most sanguinary riots." 

Wishing to heal the differences, Hancock exert- 
ed every means without avail. He then gave a 
dinner at the Green Dragon, and invited the prom- 
inent opposing partisans. The hot-headed, the 
cool, the deliberate and the excitable gathered, 
giving him their earnest attention. Many a time 
before had he quelled their turbulence ; and now, 
with his moderation and judgment, warm elo- 
quence and flowing phrases, he allayed the trou- 
bled passions, pleading the great cause they 
should harmoniously uphold. 

This dinner cost him one thousand dollars; 14 
but his object was attained. " Before they parted 
they shook hands and pledged their united exer- 
tions to break the chains with which they were 
manacled." 

Here we see the happy faculty of Hancock in 
smoothing away obstacles ; and it has been said 
of him that " In his public speeches, also to the 
Legislature, he acquitted himself with a degree of 
popular eloquence seldom equaled." 

His clemency is seen in the pardon of fourteen 
persons who had received sentence of death. 

An appreciative writer says of Hancock : 

" Let virtuosi, with assiduous dread, 
Preserve from rust a medalled Caesar's head ; 
Freemen will keep, with more industrious aim. 
From slander's vile aspersion Hancock's fame." 15 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Treaty at Paris — Hancock, the Friend of the Sol- 
dier — Endangers His Fortune— His Money 
Trunk — Persistence in Work — His Son Inocu- 
lated. 

After long years of war pagans of gladness rung 
through every town for at Paris the treaty was 
completed that finally established the independence 
of the United States of America ; and now the col- 
onies, though poor in treasury, were rich in free- 
dom. The Army was disbanded. The continental 
money was nearly worthless, and the poor sol- 
diers were wronged by pay in this depreciated cur- 
rency. 

Governor Hancock stood by the soldiers. His 
liberality had long been proverbial ; but what 
could compare to this — he gave them dollar for 
dollar in good money and took in return their val- 
ueless paper, for which he received only one cent 
on the dollar when he came to dispose of it. He 
once paid out $2,500 of these poor bills for a bell- 
metal skillet, the price of which, in good money 
was twenty-five dollars. This rash prodigality 
the Governor continued until friends became 
alarmed at the drain upon his fortune, and advised 



i 9 o DOROTHY QUINCY 

Madam Hancock to have the " money trunk " re- 
moved from the house, as they feared that she and 
her child would be left penniless ! It was bold 
advice to a wife, and a high-handed proceeding, yet 
it was accomplished, and the trunk taken to a se- 
cure place not so accessible to Hancock's whole- 
souled generosity. He seems to have submitted to 
this with good grace, since it had the sanction of 
the woman he loved. 

Hancock, while attending to public duties, had 
entrusted his private affairs to the supervision of 
others, a neglect which somewhat impaired his 
property, and John Adams says : "If Hancock's 
fortune had not been very large, he would have 
died poor." But he had real estate through New 
England as well as in Boston. 

Madam Hancock's principal solicitude was her 
husband's 1 health. She urged him to give more 
consideration to it, but in his mind the State was 
paramount, and he continued his indefatigable ap- 
plication. 2 

In one of his letters to a friend dated November 
14, 1783, he writes: " I have for ten years past 
devoted myself to the concern of the public. I can 
truly boast I set out upon honest principles and 
strictly adhered to them to the close of the con- 
test, and this I defv malice itself to controvert." s 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Lafayette Feted in Boston — Hancock's Failing 
Health — Illustrious Guests — The Governor 
Resigns — His Irritability from Gout. 

The great fear of small-pox, the scourge of 
those early days, led Madam Hancock to subject 
her small boy to the torture of inoculation; and 
Judge Ouincy writes, September 25, 1783, " I con- 
gratulate Dolly on her son's courage in being inoc- 
ulated." 1 

In August, 1784, the anniversary of the battle 
of Yorktown, Lafayette was again in Boston. A 
magnificent military procession, bearing flags of 
America and France, escorted him to the town. 
Amid music, the ringing of bells, unceasing accla- 
mations from the crowd, and guns firing salutes, 
he was conducted to the Bunch-of-Grapes Tavern. 
A great banquet was then given him at Faneuil 
Hall, where he was received by Governor Han- 
cock, " Avith five hundred other gentlemen." 2 In 
the evening the streets were illuminated, and a 
brilliant ball took place at Madam Haley's, fire- 
works dazzling the scene. 

Governor Hancock's malady increased in sever- 
ity until it finally obliged him to resign from the 



193 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Gubernatorial chair. He had for some time been 
dependent on assistance in order to move, and 
there were occasions when the Governor would 
not forego his hospitality, though unable to sit at 
table with the guests, but was wheeled around in a 
chair, stopping to exchange greeting with each 
one. Madam Hancock relates, in connection with 
his suffering, that once when he returned from 
public business the servants took him from the 
carriage in their arms, and he was laid upon a sofa 
until the new suit that he wore was cut off to 
relieve the pain, and he was then carried to his 
sleeping-room. 

The Hancocks continued to receive illustrious 
visitors, and Governor Hancock added to his hall 
of paintings the portraits of several of their 
friends at his own expense. Lafayette and Wash- 
ington had been guests under his roof, and Ma- 
dam Hancock had also assisted in entertaining 
" Brissot, Chief of the Girondists, Lords Stanley, 
Wortley, Labouchiere, and Bourganville." 3 Prince 
Edward had paid his respects, and Madam Han- 
cock found him quite agreeable, though she was 
startled, but not disconcerted, when he asked what 
she thought of his red whiskers, and met the ques- 
tion with her usual felicity. 

January 29, 1785, Governor Hancock sent in his 
resignation. He wrote that his infirm state of 
health rendered him incapable of giving that atten- 
tion to public business that was expected, etc. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 193 

Madam Hancock was distressed at seeing her 
husband now succumb to pain, for he was often 
confined to his room. Naturally the long-contin- 
ued torture affected his nerves, and gradually, 
under its pressure, came a change of temper, but 
not of feeling; for throughout his life there burnt 
the steady flame of love and devotion that left no 
cinders of affection for the " Dear Dolly." 

Madam Hancock tranquilly endured these at- 
tacks of irritability, so in contrast to his former 
self, as she understood their source. To their 
friends it was a source of uneasiness and regret. 

Sullivan speaks of his " general affability and 
kindliness of manner." 4 Even his opponents had 
credited him with " fine manners and soft, mild 
address." 

I will relate an instance of this petulancy. Ma- 
dam Hancock states that the Governor always ex- 
acted obedience from the servants. His nerves 
were high strung by long sickness, and the least 
noise grated on them. Hancock had ordered from 
abroad pewter plates decorated with his coat-of- 
arms, a fad of the day, a few of which are still 
owned in his family, having survived the fashion. 
Orders had been given that these plates were to 
be used, as the clatter from the china penetrated to 
his room ; but I suspect the fair dame was averse 
to the innovation, preferring their beautiful India 
service. 



i 94 DOROTHY QUINCY 

One day the sharp click penetrated to Governor 
Hancock's bedroom. Cato was summoned and 
asked if the china plates were on the table. He 
replied only those with the cheese. He was told 
to put the cheese into a pewter plate and bring the 
china one to him. Cato returned with it in his 
hand. 

' Now, throw it out of the window !" said the 
Governor. 

Cato, thinking as " Massa " could not move, he 
would cheat him, adroitly threw the plate on to a 
slanting bank of grass, which did no injury. 
The Governor not hearing a crash, ordered him to 
go down and break it against the wall, which 
noise, for the first time, fell gratefully on his at- 
tentive ear. 5 

Hancock had worked on steadily, contending 
long with pain ; creeping and advancing with 
insidious persistence, feebly at first, then with the 
sharp twinges that wring from the strongest man 
cries of agony, it forced and racked its way 
through every joint, stiffening into rigidity the 
once supple members. What man could be a phil- 
osopher under such circumstances? Rasped past 
endurance by the battle, he struck out wildly for 
an object on which to vent his wretchedness — were 
it but a china plate. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Death of the Hancocks' Son — Judge Quincy's 
Death — Mrs. Sewell Writes to Dorothy — 
Hancock Again Governor — His Philanthropy. 
Lafayette's Generosity — Constitution Adopt- 
ed — Boston Celebrates It — Filling the Of- 
fices — The Vote for Governor — Dinner at the 
Hancocks'. 

Victor Hugo tells us that " grief is always at 
the side of joy." On January 27, 1787, the only 
son of Governor Hancock died under most griev- 
ous circumstances. The Governor was walking 
with a friend, accompanied by his son George 
Washington, then about nine years old, who, see- 
ing a pair of skates in the shop window, began 
pleading to have them. His father refused, but the 
child was so persistent that the friend, to gratify 
him, stepped into the store and purchased the 
skates. George had still another point to carry, 
and insisted upon trying them. The sidewalk was 
covered with ice. Before either could prevent him 
the boy struck out and fell, causing injuries that 
proved fatal. 

The Independent Chronicle of February ist re- 
lates that " the corpse was carried in Mr. Han- 
cock's own coach; that worthy gentleman and his 



i 9 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

amiable lady, in great affliction, followed in an- 
other coach." 

This heartrending affliction was particularly se- 
vere to the Hancocks, as it left them childless. 
Filled with deep-seated sorrow man goes forth 
into the world to find distraction in his routine of 
duties, while the wife, wrapt in despondency, sits 
in solitidue, surrounded by touching mementos, 
penetrated with the haunting thought of her loss. 
Thus we behold Madam Hancock, who was now 
to experience sorrow upon sorrow. Her father 
died, and a good man's life ended. 

Mrs. Sewell, harrowed by grief at her absence 
from the beloved parent, closes her letter to her 
sister Dorothy : " ' Mark the upright man, for the 
end of that man is peace.' We have every com- 
fort rising from the words of the psalmist who, 
from the moral rectitude of our dear father's ex- 
emplary virtues, this passage may be very justly 
applied. And he is now, I have no doubt, receiv- 
ing his blessed reward for his faithful and steady 
adherence to the Christian religion and an early 
piety." 1 

The commonwealth was involved in trouble. 
and, as the respite had benefited Governor Han- 
cock's health, friends urged him again to take the 
helm of State. Discontent was stirring among the 
people, and some declared that the Government 
had not granted their requests. Hancock accepted 




JOHN GEORGE WASHINGTON HANCOCK. 
(Sun of Governor and Mrs. Hancock.) 



DOROTHY QUINCY 197 

the office, " the disturbances were quieted, and 
order was restored." 2 

Governor Hancock, in considering others, relin- 
quished a portion of his salary " for the benefit of 
the State," and he did so with the understanding 
that a precedent should not be established thereby. 
Under his rule he condemned public whipping and 
recommended confinement to hard labor as proba- 
bly more salutary, as well as more humane punish- 
ment. He also favored fewer capital punish- 
ments. 3 

His philanthropy was manifested when, in 1788, 
three negroes were decoyed on board a vessel and 
taken to the West Indies, where they were sold 
into slavery. It was through his intervention with 
the French consul in Boston that they were re- 
leased and brought back. 4 

At the time of the great fire, in 1787, when sev- 
eral of his tenements were destroyed, the tenants 
gathered around him and expressed profound sym- 
pathy. He remarked that they were the greatest 
sufferers, having been almost ruined, while he was 
able to erect new buildings, and at the same time 
passed a " shower of guineas among them." 5 

The Marquis of Lafayette, who still held in re- 
membrance those for whom he had drawn the 
sword, on hearing of the fire sent the following 
letter to Mr. Breck : " I have written to request 
you to pay a sum of money for my account to the 
unhappy sufferers by the late fire at Boston, but I 



i 9 8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

am fearful I committed a mistake by using the 
word two instead of three hundred guineas ; if so, 
you will oblige me by correcting that error and 
paying the additional sum." 6 

The Constitution of the United States, after 
much discussion, was adopted, ten out of thirteen 
of the States agreeing to it at once. In 1788 it 
went into effect, but the new " Union " of the 
whole began in 1790. Great support was given to 
the Constitution by Governor Hancock and Hon. 
Samuel Adams, though they did not entirely ap- 
prove of all the articles. Before the convention as- 
sembled Hancock prepared proposals for amend- 
ment, and they both resolved to give it their de- 
cided support. Hancock considered a general 
government to be the salvation of his country. 

Bancroft writes : " The conduct of Hancock in 
support of the Constitution was, from beginning 
to end, consistent, and so wise that the after- 
thought of the most skilful caviler cannot point 
out where it could be improved." 7 And " that the 
country from the St. Croix to the St. Mary's had 
fixed its attention on Massachusetts, whose ad- 
verse decision would inevitably involve the defeat 
of the Constitution." 

On this occasion Hancock left his sick bed and 
was carried to his seat f and Judson says, " By his 
vote and influence induced the Assembly to accept 
and sanction that important instrument of confed- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 199 

eration that has, thus far, held us in the bonds of 
union, strength and power." 9 

Schiller tells us, " War is a violent trade." But, 
cruel as it is, it was a necessary one, and successful 
for the colonists. 

We now approach the period of the country's 
improvement. The discharged soldiers returned 
to their commerce, agriculture and farms ; the 
sword was laid aside for the plow ; they pur- 
sued their daily avocations without the startling 
cry of " To arms !" and the interruption of fife 
and drum. Peace reigned and plenty followed. 
To men sitting by their firesides, with sheathed 
swords, war was but a memory. 

When the Constitution was ratified there was 
another exultant outburst throughout the country, 
and General Knox wrote, " Boston people have lost 
their senses with joy." They formed a grand pa- 
rade. There was a ship, " Federal Constitution." 
drawn by thirteen horses, with full colors flying ; 
eighty-three seamen dressed with ribbons, etc. 
Every trade was represented, with tools and im- 
plements. 

Philadelphia was jubilant at the " ratification of 
the Federal Constitution by the powerful and 
patriotic State of Massachusetts." 

The following is in a letter from Philadelphia, 
February 20, 1788, looking at once towards filling 
the offices : " Should the new Constitution be 
adopted General Washington will undoubtedly be 



zoo DOROTHY QU1NCY 

President and Governor Hancock Vice-President 
of the Union." " May the immortal powers who 
guard the just watch o'er the godlike patriots." 
"' Long may Columbus boast such heroes, states- 
men and true friends to freemen's sacred rights as 
Washington and Hancock. These great men at 
the head of our Government all Europe will again 
acknowledge the importance of America." 10 

July 19th John Adams returned from Europe. 
" After an absence of nine years he was received 
with every mark of respect; was met by the Sec- 
retary of State in the Governor's carriage, and 
rode to his house, the streets filled with thousands. 
He remained at the Governor's and there received 
the congratulations of the Lieutenant-Governor 
and the Council." 

Madam Hancock watched with apprehension the 
feeling between the partisans of Hancock and 
Bowdoin, which was very bitter, and '* it was 
compared to the stormy annals of the ancient re- 
publics of Greece and Rome." 11 

Hancock received 1,427 votes for Governor, 
while James Bowdoin had 5, and Elbridge 
Gerry 5. 12 

Governor Hancock's popularity was not entirely 
local. In a letter from Philadelphia to Newbury- 
port, July 2, 1788, is written, " We drink some ex- 
cellent wine to Massachusetts patriots — Hancock 
is the deity for Vice-President." 



DOROTHY QUINCY 201 

The papers give notice that " the two spoken 
of generally in Massachusetts for Vice-President. 
His Excellency, our worthy Governor, and Hon. 
John Adams." While still another advised, " Un- 
doubtedly Hancock for Vice-President, and 
Adams for Chief Justice Federal Judiciary.'' 

July 9th the twelfth anniversary was celebrated 
with great eclat ; the military was reviewed from 
the State House balcony by the Governor, who had 
provided a repast for them in the building. The 
Governor gave a "splendid dinner " at his house 
on Friday, ending with " thirteen toasts, each ac- 
companied with a discharge of artillery." 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

The Hancocks Visit Portsmouth, N. H. — Their 
Departure from There, and Escort — The 
French Their Guests — The Officers Return 
the Civilities — The Hancocks' Ball — The 
Hancocks Dine on Board the Achilles — A 
President and Vice-President Chosen — Wash- 
ington's Reply to Hancock's Congratulations. 
Adams at the Hancocks'. 

The Hancocks improved the Governor's restor- 
ation to health by a trip to Portsmouth, N. H. It 
is announced in the journal, " Tuesday eve last ar- 
rived in this town His Excellency John Hancock, 
Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, with his lady and suite." August 16 — 
" The patriotism which this worthy character has 
ever discovered, his attachment to the liberties of 
his country, and the rights of mankind in general, 
and the great sacrifices he has made in its de- 
fense — claim the attention and call for the love of 
ever}- American, and must render his presence 
truly agreeable. We bid His Excellency a hearty 
welcome to the capital of New Hampshire, in do- 
ing which, we doubt not, we shall be joined by all 
our fellow-citizens." 1 

Their departure from Portsmouth is described : 
"His Excellency and lady left this place, on their 



DOROTHY QUINCY 203 

return to Boston, with some gentlemen from South 
Carolina. This illustrious patriot, this friend to 
mankind, appears to be selected by the united 
voice of the continent, and admiring as well as 
approving world, for the second seat in the new 
Federal Government. A Washington, a Hancock, 
a Franklin and a Sullivan can never be forgotten 
whilst the history of America is read. * * * He 
was escorted as far as *Greenland by His Excel- 
lency President Langdon and lady, by the Consul 
of France and others, and Colonel Went worth, 
with his elegant independent company of Light 
Horse." 2 

We follow their route through the journals : 
" On Monday, at 12 o'clock, His Excellency was 
met and escorted by three troops of horse and a 
cavalcade of gentlemen from Newburyport to 
Haverhill, where an elegant entertainment was 
provided for His Excellency, and where demon- 
strations of joy and festivity testified to the pleas- 
ure the citizens of Essex felt on being visited by 
so distinguished a character." 

" August 23d, Tuesday evening last, His Excel- 
lency the Governor and his lady returned from 
their visit to the capital of New Hampshire." 

The French were always accorded a warm wel- 
come in Boston, a gracious return for their sym- 
pathy and aid when the colonies were under trial. 



^Greenland is four miles from Portsmouth. 



204 DOROTHY QUINCY 

and the Hancocks in particular felt that their social 
attentions could never sufficiently requite our 
allies. 

On September 4 the Marquis de Sainneville and 
his corps of officers " partook of an elegant colla- 
tion " at the Governor's. The French officers re- 
turned most cordially the civilities extended. 

The Marquis de Sainneville gave on board The 
Superb '* a public and very elegant entertainment." 
Relating the manning of the ship's yards for the 
Governor, and cheering, the article continues : 
■" After the usual refreshments the company were 
introduced under a canopy on the deck, where they 
were perfectly accommodated, the tables being cal- 
culated for upwards of eighty persons, and but 
seventy-six present; so that each gentleman was 
as completely at his ease as if in the retired circle 
of his own family." Thirteen toasts were drank 
after dinner. One of them was, " The American 
Fair, may beauty and virtue still continue their 
amiable characteristics." 

Then His Excellency gave an " elegant enter- 
tainment " a day or two later to the Marquis and 
"ther French officers, ending with a "superb 
ball." 

There was to be no lull in the gaiety, for under 
date of September 25 the Marquis de Sainneville 
and his officers dined with the Governor and 
Madam Hancock. After the dinner they took 
leave of His Excellency and lady and were escort- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 205 

ed by the Independent Corps of Cadets to the 
Long Wharf, at which place the Governor had 
previously arrived in his carriage and joined tin- 
procession. When the place of embarkation was 
reached the Cadets formed in line, opened ranks 
and saluted them as they passed. The Marquis 
took an affectionate leave of the Governor, and 
received His Excellency's warmest wishes for his 
happiness. Then he went on board his barge, 
where a great body of citizens had assembled. 3 

One chronicler says : " The most perfect order 
marked every part of this ceremony — if that may 
be called a ceremony — in which the feelings of tin- 
heart were so deeply interested." 4 

This gives some idea of the form of civilities 
exchanged at that epoch. 

The Hancocks, with a select party, dined with 
the Chevalier Macarty de Martique on board the 
Achilles, and the dinner was over by four o'clock. 
The fleet expected to leave the next day. 

The question of the Vice-President continued. 
In a letter of Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia. 
October 7, 1788, he says: "Mr. Adams would 
probably have all the votes of the State for Vice- 
President's chair. Mr. Hancock's frequent indis- 
position alone will preclude him from that mark 
of respect from Philadelphia." 5 

Another article states that circumstances seem 
most to concur in favor of John Adams, Esquire. 
While the conciliatory talents of Governor Han- 



2o6 DOROTHY QU1NCY 

cock, and the attachment to him that prevails in 
Massachusetts render him necessary to the peace 
of New England, Mr. Adams is at perfect leisure 
to rill the seat." 

At last the decision was proclaimed — George 
Washington the choice for President, and John 
Adams, Vice-President; Pennsylvania, Virginia 
and South Carolina voting for Hancock in the lat- 
ter office. 6 

Hancock courteously wrote a letter to General 
Washington, to which he received this reply : 

" New York, May 9, 1789. 
" Governor Hancock : 

" Sir — I am taking the earliest occasion of acknowl- 
edging the receipt of the letter which you did me the 
favor to address to me by Mr. Allen, and to thank you 
for your kind congratulations on my appointment to 
the Presidency of the United States. 

" Mrs. Washington is not here, but is expecte-l in 
the course of this month. On her arrival I shall not 
fail of executing the friendly commission of Mrs. Han- 
cock and yourself. 

" In tendering my respectful compliments to both, 
and in hopes that the present favorable season may 
greatly accelerate the recovery of your health, I re- 
main, with the highest respect and consideration, sir. 
" Your excellency's most obedient and 

most honorable servant, 

" G. Washington." 7 

The Hancocks gave to their old friend Adams 
a congratulatory and parting fete before he as- 
sumed his new duties. " He then departed for 
New York under the escort of a troop of horse." 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

The Hancocks Receive the French — Ball on 
Board l'Illustre — Epergne Broken — Washing- 
ton Goes to Boston — Disagreeable Episode — 
Takes Tea at the Hancocks' — The Ladies 
Honor Him — He Leaves for Portsmouth, N. H. 

In 1789, when John Hancock was again elected 
Governor, he and the Lieutenant-Governor, 011 
going to take the oath of office, wore complete 
suits of broadcloth of American manufacture. On 
the coat of His Excellency were silver buttons, 
also of American make, and there was a stimulus 
throughout the country to start factories. The 
Harvard graduates at one time were " all dressed 
in black cloth made in New England," living up 
i" the cry of " non-importation." 2 

In September, 1789, Madam Hancock, in her 
" earthly paradise,"^ as her home had been desig- 
nated, again does the honors to the French squad- 
ron, which had anchored in the harbor of Boston 
to avoid the West India gales, and gave " an ele- 
gant and splendid entertainment," as the papers de- 
scribed it, to the Le Vicompte de Penteves and of- 
ficers of his squadron. This was returned by a 
" superb entertainment and ball on board l'Illus- 
tre " by the Vicompte at one o'clock they all sat 



2o8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

down to a table liberally spread with a " profusion 
of luxuries and delicacies." " At the head of the 
dining tables was a castle of pastry, having therein 
thirteen metal guns, by which, from tubes which 
communicated through the table and deck, the 
company were saluted with a general discharge." 

" On the top of the castle waved a small white 
ensign — the device, two hearts; the motto, " The 
United Hearts of America and France." The 
head of the hall was ornamented with a heart 
pierced with arrows; and in the motto. "Hom- 
age to the Fair Daughters of America." * * * 

" After dinner the ball began, and closed before 
nine o'clock, and on departure of His Excellency 
he was saluted with thirteen rockets, let off from 
a boat moored at some distance from the ship." 4 

Madam Hancock was also present. 

Governor Hancock next had a " magnificent 
ball " for the daughter of James Sullivan, on the 
occasion of her marriage to Mr. Cutler. 

The Hancock house seemed the theatre of joy, 
wit and pleasure, with euphonious compliments 
filling the air. Did Madam Hancock never tire of 
all these festivals? I think not; they became a 
part of her life, and custom took from its onerous- 
ness. It takes more effort to entertain occasion- 
ally than when it is part of a daily routine. 

It is related of Governor Hancock that, " at one 
of his dinners to sixty guests, a servant, removing 
a cut-glass epergne, which formed the central or- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 209 

nament of the table, let it fall and it was dashed 
into a thousand pieces. An awkward silence fell 
upon the company, who hardly knew how to treat 
the accident. Hancock relieved the embarrass- 
ment by cheerfully exclaiming: "James, break 
as much as you like, but don't make such a con- 
founded noise about it!" "Under cover of the 
laugh this excited the fragments were removed. 
and talk went on as if nothing had happened." 5 

Not a visitor of celebrity to Boston but carried 
away with him the remembrance of the Gover- 
nor's table and the flavor of his choice wines. 

In October President Washington proposed to 
visit Boston. Every arrangement was made for 
a most elaborate procession to receive and escort 
him through the city. 

Governor Hancock, '* on the first information 
of the intention of the President, issued his orders 
for paying every military honor to the illustrious 
visitant." " He was to be met at Cambridge and 
accompanied into the capital. There were to be 
triumphal arches and a grand procession ; the 
flags in it were to be of white silk a yard square, 
with staffs seven feet long, and all handsomely 
painted." 6 

The Governor despatched an express to 
Worcester with an invitation to the President to 
dine with him on his arrival. 

The day was ushered in " unusually cold and 
murky." and most provocative of gout. It started 



2io DOROTHY QUINCY 

Hancock's intense pains, which confined him to 
the house. The procession was delayed by a dis- 
cussion between the sheriff and the selectmen as to 
their special duties, each desiring the most promi- 
nent place. The question temporarily settled, 
Washington entered the town with the cortege, 
which proceeded to his lodgings ; then sent a note 
at dinner-time excusing himself to the Governor. 
This was just the opportunity for Hancock's ad- 
versaries, who did not hesitate to improve it b\ 
poisoning Washington's mind, asserting that 
Governor Hancock's absence was caused " by his 
jealousy of the President; and that, as an advo- 
cate of the sovereignty of the States," he ex- 
pected Washington to make the first call. 

It does not appear characteristic of Governor 
Hancock to place himself voluntarily in a position 
to give offense to Washington, a man for whom 
he had both friendship and admiration ; the man 
under whom he had asked to serve when he was 
President of the Congress, even if to enter the 
ranks ;" for whom he had named his only son : to 
whom he had extended the hospitalities of his 
house ; in whose honor he had inaugurated one of 
the grandest processions the city ever organized. 
Would he have raised a question of etiquette and 
be guilty of rudeness before all his townsmen? 
Was it in character for John Hancock, the high- 
toned gentleman, whose good breeding was pro- 
verbial and acknowledged even by his enemies ; 



DOROTHY QUINCY an 

whose thought was more of others than of self, 
to put a slight upon President Washington wil- 
fully and publicly ? It could only find credence in 
minds warped by enmity. 

There is a long account of the event, which 
says, " The worthy Governor of this Common- 
wealth, having an exalted estimation of the virtu- 
ous President, and although much indisposed as to 
his health, was determined to show the President 
the honors of the Government in a style suitable 
to his dignity." 

The preparations made to receive him are re- 
lated in detail, and it is stated that " the Lieuten- 
ant-Governor and the Council met him at Cam- 
bridge, by request of the Governor, who would 
have accompanied them himself had his health 
permitted." 7 

A correspondent observes : " There has been 
no circumstance in the life of our Governor which 
could have tried his feelings so much as his bod- 
ily indisposition at this happy moment; for Han- 
cock, w r hose name was so familiarly united with 
Washington, to be cast upon a painful couch, is 
a circumstance which requires more than the pa- 
tience of Job to support him under." 8 

President Adams, writing to H. Niles, in 1818. 
says of Hancock : " Of his life, of his character, 
generous nature, great disinterested sacrifices, and 
important services — if I had force — I should be 
glad to write a volume." 



212 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Does that describe a man to premeditate a dis- 
courtesy? Hancock wrote to the officials who 
afterwards carried their grievances to him, that 
his orders had been, " Nothing should be wanting 
to have the President treated with every mark of 
respect that his high station demanded," and con- 
tinued, " Being, unfortunately, confined on that 
day by bodily indisposition, it was out of my 
power to be abroad.'"' 

Then we have the assurances of his noble wife, 
educated with an abhorrence of falsehood, on 
whom this aspersion had left an indelible impres- 
sion. Years after, when discussing this event, 
she asserted that her husband was really suffering, 
and too ill on that inclement day to leave the house, 
and she felt that he had been harshly judged. 1 " 

When Governor Hancock heard how his detrac- 
tors — and what man with Hancock's honors has 
been exempt from them — had perverted his ab- 
sence he despatched " a note to Washington, say- 
ing he would have called sooner had his health in 
any degree permitted;" 11 then in bodily pain, and 
pain of mind, Hancock drove to Washington's 
lodgings. W r hen he entered the room, with limbs 
swathed, and supported by his servants, the sight 
of his helplessness moved Washington's impartial 
heart to read aright that of his visitor, and, realiz- 
ing he had been deceived, he evinced a great deal 
of feeling. 



DOROTHY QU1NCY 213 

This visit Washington returned the next day, 
first sending word by the Marshal of the District 
to announce that he wished to pass an hour or 
two alone with Governor and Mrs. Hancock. 12 
Washington expressed astonishment that any per- 
son should have so imposed upon him ; their cor- 
dial relations were resumed, and he drank tea 
with them. Madam Hancock relates that the 
President was very sociable and pleasant during 
the whole call, and that he was affable when with 
his friends; but was careful of his dignity in the 
presence of strangers. 

The President contracted a cold on that raw 
day, and " his eye suffered from inflammation ;" 
many other persons were similarly affected, and 
the malady was known as the " Washington influ- 
enza. " 1:; 

A series of entertainments was given during 
the President's visit, keeping the town in whirls 
of pleasure. The journals portray the tide of fes- 
tivities as in our day ; one of these, under date of 
October 28. 1789, has a notice that " Yesterday 
His Excellency the Governor and Council gave a 
sumptuous and elegant dinner at Faneuil Hall to 
the President of the United States and gentlemen 
of distinction to the number of one hundred and 
fifty. Owing to severe indisposition His Excel- 
lency the Governor could not attend the public 
dinner. * * * The President, Wednesday 



2i 4 DOROTHY QUINCY 

eve, honored the Assembly with his presence at 
I oncert Hall." 

" The company was very brilliant, and among 
the respectable characters present were the Vice- 
President of the United States, the lady of the 
< rovernor, the Lieutenant-Governor and lady, 
Viscount de Ponteves, the Marquis de Traversay 
and his lady, etc." 

Then on Tuesday the President attended an 
oratorio. The ladies had agreed to wear, in his 
honor, the following device on a cincture, " a 
broad white satin ribbon, with G. W. in gold let- 
ters, encircled with a laurel wreath ; on one end 
of the sash to be painted the American eagle and 
on the other a Fleur de lis." 1 * 

' The Marchioness de Traversay exhibited on 
the bandeau of her hat the G. W. and the eagle 
sel in brilliants on a black velvet ground." 

Thursday the President departed eastward with 
an escort, leaving Boston a respite, until the next 
distinguished visitor should arrive. So ended the 
ebullition of excitement and bitterness over this 
question of a first call, which could never have 
arisen had Washington accepted the invitation of 
Governor Hancock, so cordially extended, to 
,c command his house while he continued in Bos- 
ton." 15 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

An Ode to Hancock — The American Artillery — 
Re-elected Governor — Prejudice Against 
Plays — Hancock's Dinners — Davis' Death — 
Hancock's Last Term of Office — Takes Leave 
of the Legislature — Faithful to Duty. 

There had been erected on Beacon Hill a col- 
umn sixty feet high, " built of brick, covered with 
stucco, with foundations and mouldings of stone." 
commemorating " the leading events of the Amer- 
ican Revolution, as well as an ornament to the 
Hill and useful landmark." On one side of the 
monument was inscribed, ' Hancock, President,' ' 
which inspired the following ode: 



" Great Hancock's worth thro' every distant Clime 
Shall be resounded to the latest Time : 
Millions shall bless the Day that they were born. 
When Godlike Hancock did these States adorn ; 
On Fame's bright Wings his glorious Name shall Soar 
'Till Stars shall fall, and Systems be no more : 
Immortal Statesman ! 'Round fair Freedom's Shrine, 
Heroes and Sages hail him all divine. 
To Heaven's expanse may late his spirit rise. 
And Guardian Angels waft it to the Skies ; 
Celestial choirs shall sound his lasting fame. 
Expiring time shall not erase his name, 
Seraphs his brows around with laurels grace ; 
At God's Right Hand he'll take the sacred place. 
For Deeds so Generous and deserved Renown, 
Thy worth, oh, Hancock, claims a Heavenly Crown." 1 



3i6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

On the application of Governor Hancock to 
Congress, " it was ordered the two field pieces be 
restored to Massachusetts, which were a part of 
the four that composed the whole American artil- 
lery at the commencement of the Revolutionary 
War, April 19, 1775" On one Congress ordered 
to be inscribed, " Hancock — Sacred to Liberty." 
This was a most appropriate motto, for " It is 
said John Hancock sacrificed more than one hun- 
dred thousand dollars in the cause of liberty." 
The other bore the inscription, " Adams." 2 

Madam Hancock again witnessed the apprecia- 
tion of her husband's rule manifested by the peo- 
ple in his re-election as Governor, though one his- 
torian had written to a friend, 1790. predicting 
that John Hancock would have few votes at the 
next election in consequence of the George Wash- 
ington episode. 3 But another writes that " Han- 
cock had such hold upon the affections and grati- 
tude of the great body of the people that all efforts 
to supersede him and to place another citizen in 
the chair of State were ineffectual." 1 

Madam Hancock had many long vigils by the 
sick bed of her husband, after one of which a 
Boston journal of July 22, 1790. published the 
following : " We have the pleasure to announce 
to the public the recovery of our beloved Governor 
from his late indisposition. A life so valuable 
cannot but excite the most anxious emotions in 



DOROTHY QUINCY 217 

the minds of the citizens of this commonwealth, 
which we are happy to relieve." 5 

Owing to the strong prejudice against the 
drama. Madam Hancock was debarred from show- 
ing any appreciation of it. Had Massachusetts 
been inspired by Victor Hugo's sentiment, " that 
an audience ought never to be allowed to leave a 
theatrical spectacle without carrying away some 
instinct of morality both deep and stern, " objec- 
tions would have been less, nor would the press 
have ventured such predictions as that the en- 
couragement of the drama would " drain the town 
of upwards of ten thousand pounds and reduce 
hundreds to ruin." 6 

One correspondent observes that it was with 
pleasure he heard of the " virtuous and patriotic 
exertions of Governor Hancock in suppressing the 
progress of a company of strolling stage players 
who were in actual violation of the laws of that 
commonwealth." 

December 26 the Governor replies to a commit- 
tee on theatricals and concludes : " Whenever the 
Senate and House of Representatives shall be 
pleased to lay before me a bill respecting theatri- 
cal entertainments I will give it a candid examina- 
tion and approve or disapprove of it according to 
what I shall conceive to be my duty to my con- 
stituents." 7 

" Public dinners, which at the present day are 
given at public expense, were provided for by 



2i8 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Hancock from his private purse." On election 
day, May 21, 1 791, he gave one of these dinners 
at Faneuil Hall, where they had one hundred and 
sixty-three bottles of wine. 8 

Voltaire tells us that to enjoy pleasures one 
must know how to leave them, and John Han- 
cock, who, though a good liver, thoroughly under- 
stood where to draw the line, and partook of noth- 
ing in excess, discreetly followed the maxim of 
Voltaire. 

On the 6th of June he gave a '" splendid enter- 
tainment in his glorious hall,'' Solomon Davis, 
Esq., had set the table in a roar, and one of his 
puns being specially felicitous, Colonel Orne re- 
marked, " Go home, Davis, and die — you can 
never beat that." 

Singular to relate, Mr. Davis, on his way home, 
fell dead in a fit of apoplexy, near King's Chapel, 
and " his pockets were found filled with plum- 
cake,"" the indulgence in which, after a bounteous 
feast and variety of wines, ended the life of this 
bon vivant. 

Following this the Governor entertained the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery. The hall was 
decorated for the occasion, a fine orchestra pro- 
vided, and the description concludes, " Notwith- 
standing the ill-health of His Excellency, he paid 
every possible attention to the company, who, feel- 
ing themselves highly honored, are happy that his 
health was not further injured." 10 



DOROTHY QUINCY 219 

In 1792 the Governor, besides looking after the 
State, was keeping up his royal banquets, which 
the journals duly reported. These recreative re- 
pasts gave to Hancock the much needed relaxa- 
tion and refreshment, and Madam Hancock wel- 
comed the respite for him. 

John Adams has said : " A great part of Han- 
cock's life had been passed in pain, yet it was 
astonishing with what patience, perseverance and 
punctuality he attended to business to the last." 11 

May, 1793, John Hancock was again elected 
Governor, but his malady was fast telling on him, 
and he began to realize it. His servants made an 
arm-chair and carried him from his carriage into 
the State House 12 at the meeting of the Legisla- 
ture, September 18, 1793. Hancock was obliged 
to retain his seat from debility, and he hoped that 
the members would keep theirs while the Secre- 
tary of State read his address, as his infirmity 
rendered it impossible for him to speak so as to be 
heard." 13 When the Secretary had finished read- 
ing this interesting and pertinent speech of Han- 
cock's. His Excellency made the following truly 
pathetic apology, with a tone of voice which at 
once demonstrated the sincerity of his heart, and 
which could not fail of making a deep impression 
on the mind of every spectator : 

" I beg pardon of the honorable Legislature, 
and I rely on your candor, gentlemen, to forgive 
this method of addressing you. T feel the seeds 



zao DOROTHY QUINCY 

of mortality growing fast within me ; but I think 
I have in this case done no more than my duty as 
the servant of the people. I never did — I never 
will deceive them while 1 have life and strength 
to act in their service." 

He had served as Governor eleven years and 
died not quite a month after this resignation from 
office. With disease sapping his strength John 
Hancock stood at his post, watching over the 
trust committed to him. faithfully fulfilling his 
duties. He labored for the future, and, as has 
been said of him, " He sacrificed his health, life 
and property to secure the independence of the 
United States." 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Hancock's Death — Madam Hancock Alone — Opin- 
ions of Hancock — His Funeral — Portland's 
Respect for Him — Madam Hancock Defrays 
the Funeral Expenses — Madam Deeds Her 
Share of the Garden. 

In spite of the serious condition of the Gover- 
nor Madam Hancock had felt encouraged, and 
was not prepared for the end, which came sud- 
denly. The Independent Chronicle relates, on the 
morning previous to Governor Hancock's death. 
" He appeared more alert than for many days, 
which gave his friends also some flattering hopes 
of his recovery. The next day he felt a difficulty 
in breathing and passed away before eight o'clock, 
October 8, 1793, at the age of fifty-five." 

We have seen John Hancock, the husband of 
Dorothy Quincy, in his life at home, thoughtful 
of wife and of friends ; we have seen him as lavish 
host to strangers and countrymen; we have seen 
him abroad looking after the welfare of the peo- 
ple and the benefit of the community ; we have 
seen his ungrudging liberality to the poor: we 
have seen him mindful of his duties, filling the 
offices of President of the Congress and Governoi 
of the commonwealth in a dignified, judicious, 



222 DOROTHY QUINCY 

careful manner. Now the curtain drops on that 
life, leaving Dorothy Quincy Hancock alone. 
Alone! What did that word convey to her? A 
sense of utter desolation. Reared to trust and 
rely on others, she had ever found strength in the 
fervent attachment of the man that she loved ; he 
had supported her through the trials of life, and 
to him she had turned in her great afflictions. 
Now a Higher Power had taken him from her. 
With sisters far away, father, son and husband 
gone — in her isolation she yearned for someone 
to turn to. 

Had she lived one hundred and twenty-five 
years later, and developed into a self-sustaining, 
self-reliant, independent woman, she might have 
turned for alleviation to the study of a learned 
profession, or have interested herself in move- 
ments of philanthropy and reform. 

The military companies had arranged for a full- 
dress parade, but learning of Governor Han- 
cock's death, they were dismissed ; and one jour- 
nal thus comments upon it, " Which measure 
gave satisfaction to the citizens of Boston, who 
willingly gave up the pleasures they had pre- 
viously anticipated, and, with countenances full} 
expressive of the sorrow of their hearts, retired to 
mourn the loss of — 

" Their Country's Saviour, and Columbia's pride. 
The Orphan's Father, and the widow's friend, 
May future Hancocks Massachusetts guide — 
Hancock ! The name alone with time shall end." 1 



DOROTHY QUINCY 223 

In an address of President Wilder, he says : 
" of Boston, whatever rank may be assigned her 
on the roll of cities, the light of her example can 
never be extinguished. Her history and fame will 
be cherished and revered while the name of Frank- 
lin, the father of American science ; Hancock, the 
first signer of the Declaration of American Inde- 
pendence ; and Warren, the great martyr on 
Bunker Hill, shall have a page in the annals of 
time." 2 

I give place to a few opinions of individuals 
who were associated with Hancock, — their esti- 
mate of him and his career : 

John Adams writes of Samuel Adams and John 
Hancock : " They were the first movers, the most 
constant, steady, persevering springs, agents, and 
most disinterested sufferers and firmest pillars of 
the whole Revolution. * * * Henry gave the 
first impulse to the ball in Virginia; Otis' battle- 
dore had struck the shuttlecock up in air in Mas- 
sachusetts, and continued to keep it up for several 
years before Henry's ball w T as touched."" 

Adams very frankly wrote to William Tudor, 
who liked neither Samuel Adams nor John Han- 
cock : 

" I can say with truth that I profoundly admired him 
(Hancock), and more profoundly loved him. If he had 
vanity and caprice, so had I, and if his vanity and 
caprice made me sometimes sputter, as you know they 
often did, mine, I well know, had often a similar effect 
upon him. But these little flickerings of little passions 
determine nothing concerning essential characters. 1 



224 DOROTHY QUINCY 

knew Mr. Hancock from cradle to grave. He was 
radically generous and benevolent. * * * Though 
1 never injured or justly offended him, and though I 
spent much of my time, and suffered unknown anxiety 
in defending his property, reputation and liberty from 
persecution, I cannot but reflect upon myself for not 
paying him more respect than. I did in his lifetime. His 
life will, however, not ever be written. But, if statues, 
obelisks, pyramids, or divine honors were ever merited 
by man,, by cities, or nations, James Otis, Samuel 
Adams and John Hancock deserved these from the 
town of Boston and the United States." 

Mrs. Mercy Warren, who was more given to 
praise others than John Hancock, has said, " He 
declined the smallest concession that might lessen 
the independence and sovereignty of each State, 
and supported his opinions with firmness and dig- 
nity equally popular and honorable to himself." 4 

" His memory was embalmed in the affections 
of his townsmen." 5 

Samuel Adams writes that he was " a popular 
idol, with a large following." 6 

John Hancock was endowed with qualities that 
endeared him to his townspeople, yet he was richer 
than most of them, and lived in a style of splendor 
with which few could compete. He had the gifts 
that excite envy in smaller minds, yet we hear of 
no anarchistic spirit stimulated against him. What 
harm to John Hancock were all the clamors of his 
enemies? But for his resignation the month be- 
fore he would have died where he had lived, hold- 
ing the highest office of the commonwealth. If 
monuments and tablets were withheld from him. 



DOROTHY QUINCY 225 

his work stands, and that we have today an inde- 
pendent country is largely due to the unceasing 
labor of John Hancock, in conjunction with his 
fellow patriots. 

The body of Governor Hancock lay in state 
" eight days for the citizens to pay their last trib- 
ute of respect to his memory. They came in thou- 
sands, with expressions of grief and affection." 7 
The funeral was most impressive. At sunrise all 
the bells tolled for an hour, the flags in town and 
on the shipping were " half hoisted ;" the stores 
were closed. 

" On Monday last the remains of His Excel- 
lency John Hancock, Esq.. Governor and Com- 
mander-in-Chief of this Commonwealth, were in- 
terred with every mark of respect and honor 
which affection and gratitude could inspire." 

The journal continues, " At two o'clock the pro- 
cession formed. In the first carriage was the 
amiable lady of deceased. * * * * Samuel Adams, 
who was Lieutenant-Governor, followed the bier 
as chief mourner. The Vice-President was among 
those that followed the corpse ; the members of the 
honorable Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States; judges of the United States 
courts, who appeared for the last time in full 
dress, which was their gowns and wigs:" the Sec- 
retary of War; the military of the town and of 
the neighboring country, the officers all in uni- 
form with side-arms. The Boston Artillery had 



326 DOROTHY QUINCY 

the " Hancock piece of artillery reversed, with a 
pall of black velvet over it. All the drums in the 
procession "were muffled and covered with crape." 
There were municipal officers, the various incor- 
porated bodies, strangers and citizens ; the barris- 
ters, who " wore black gowns and club wigs," and 
the " funeral closed by the captains of vessels and 
seamen, with flags furled." * * * " During the 
movement of the procession minute guns were 
fired at the Castle, and from a detachment of Cap- 
tain Bradly's Artillery stationed on Beacon Hill." 8 

In Portland, on hearing of the Governor's de- 
cease, " the colors of all the vessels were imme- 
iately placed half-mast high, and the bells tolled 
the remainder of the day." " There was great 
pomp and solemnity, and amidst the tears of his 
countrymen he was committed to the dust." fl 

One of the papers of October 15th notices him 
thus : " To record with precision the virtues of 
his mind, the philanthropy of his heart — his pa- 
triotism, or his usefulness, were to insult the judg- 
ment of every American. * * * But the sor- 
row, visible in the countenances of every descrip- 
tion of citizen, is a better testimony to his exalted 
character than the sublimest effusions of the most 
polished writer." 

Under Hancock's pillow was found the minutes 
of a will. He had intended to leave his mansion 
to the commonwealth, as a residence for its chief 



DOROTHY QUINCY 227 

magistrate and for other purposes of Govern- 
ment. 10 

The whole of the mansion house, estate, barn 
and gardens, except a triangular gore, " was as- 
signed to Madam Hancock as her dower, as was 
also the Hancock wharf and all the buildings con- 
tiguous." In 1855 forty brick buildings stood on 
his estate on Beacon Hill, and a writer says it 
would then be worth " a million and a half dol- 
lars." 

Governor Hancock had left orders that he was 
to be buried without public honors, and forbade 
the firing of a gun over his grave. The State Gov- 
ernment chose to have the management of the 
whole affair and told Madam Hancock that the 
funeral and its expenses belonged to ' the State. 
She submitted reluctantly to the arrangement, but 
had finally to pay the bills of the obsequies herself, 
which amounted to eighteen hundred dollars. This 
was occasioned by a vote of the Legislature not 
to bury any more Governors. The law was 
changed before the death of another. 12 

In 1795 Madam Hancock deeded her share of 
the Governor's garden to the town of Boston, on 
which the State House was later erected, and 
stands at the present time. She endeavored to 
keep the mansion intact, " the chamber where 
Lafayette remained as when he slept in it ;" and 
the " audience hall was left as when all the distin- 
guished men had been present : Washington, 
D'Estaigne, Brissot, Percy, etc." 13 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Madam Hancock's Hospitality — Her Tastes— The 
Trusted Adviser — The Marriage of Madam 
Hancock — Esther's Letters — Captain Scott's 
Death. 

Madam Hancock, who has been described as a 
woman of " delightful powers of conversation,'" 1 
continued to be an interesting personage to visitors 
in Boston, as well as to residents of the city. Her 
memory was tenacious of former times, which she 
talked over with cheerfulness, manifesting no re- 
grets that they were gone. She was " naturally 
calm and tranquil, but spoke with much anima- 
tion of past events." She dispensed hospitality 
and private charity with the same profuse hand, 
and the poor found in her a ready friend. 

Count Dal Verne, who had been a frequent guest 
at Madam Hancock's, writing to her in English, 
said, " Levee day is every day," because of the 
great company he always met at her house. - 

We have remarked that Madam Hancock took 
no prominent part as an individual. It was not the 
fashion of the times for a wife to act independently 
of her husband. She is not illustrious as advocat- 
ing any great measure for the benefit of her sex 



DOROTHY QUINCY 229 

or of the public. Refinement and high-breeding 
were distinctive in character then as now, though 
women differed less from each other in general 
ideas. Madam Hancock was thoroughly feminine, 
with the impulses of a large and generous heart, 
and she completely identified herself with her hus- 
band. 

Madam Hancock found great pleasure in the 
society of her nieces and great-nieces, who often 
made long visits to the old mansion and listened 
with continued delight to her reminiscences. To 
the notes of one of them, Miss Martha Ouincy. 
who passed ten years with her, I am indebted for 
many quotations. 

Throughout her life she was elegant, as well as 
fastidious in her dress, and someone has said, "She 
would never forgive a young girl who did not 
dress to please, nor one who seemed pleased with 
her dress." 

Vividly there comes to my mind the time of 
my girlhood, when I peered into a large bureau 
drawer to regale admiring eyes on a delicate open- 
worked, light silk kerchief of gossamer texture, 
elaborately embroidered in flowers and gold 
thread, which formerly belonged to Madam Han- 
cock, and had been given to my mother, together 
with some silver, in the distribution of her ef- 
fects. 

During Madam Hancock's years of seclusion 
a gentleman, who had been a firm friend of Gov- 



2 3 o DOROTHY QUINCY 

ernor Hancock, became her trusted adviser. Her 
husband's confidence in him had been unlimited, 
and Madam Hancock had no reason to withhold 
her own. He was conversant with Governor 
Hancock's business affairs, and his constant atten- 
tion was a great support to the widow. She was 
thankful for such a friend, grateful for his aid 
and touched by his tender sympathy until he 
gradually won a place in her heart. The relatives 
and the community, however, were startled when 
their engagement was announced. 

On July 28, 1796, to the regret of some of her 
friends, Dorothy Ouincy Hancock married Cap- 
tain James Scott. The Rev. Peter Thacher, D.D., 
officiated at the ceremony. 

Captain Scott was a widower, with children. 
He was a man of fine character, but there was a 
prestige in the name of her eminent husband that 
the relatives would have liked her to retain. It 
was with them only a question of distinction. 
Madam Hancock had received a surfeit of adula- 
tion which no longer had charms for her. but she 
may have been for that very reason more suscepti- 
ble to the earnest, persuasive pleadings of Captain 
Scott, who apparently understood how well direct- 
ed sympathy inspires tenderness when a woman's 
heart is softened by sorrow. 

This is not the only instance in which a woman, 
after filling a high position during her first mar- 
riage, has made a second choice of much less dis- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 231 

tinguished character. But, so far as the man was 
concerned, Madam Hancock had no cause to re- 
gret her decision. 

Mrs. Sewell was a warm advocate of the match, 
and used her influence to favor it, as her sister 
needed this strong reliance in her isolation. She 
wrote to Madam Hancock from St. Johns, July 6, 
1796, and said: " My particular remembrance to 
Captain Scott, married or not. Mr. Sewell bids 
me give his love to Sister Kate and you; and. if 
you are married, give you both joy from Esther." 4 

The long distance and slow transmission of let- 
ters delayed news between the sisters. We find 
Esther writing again, uncertain if the ceremony 
had taken place. She and Captain Scott had evi- 
dently interchanged a number of letters. 

This is a reply referring to his missives. August 
11, 1796: 

"They consoled me much to hear my sister and 
friends were all well, and going on in the old social 
way of spending life, as though you meant to live. 
And was I near enough only to be an eye-witness of 
your happy cheerfulness, it might possibly add a few 
years to my life, which the present situation I now am 
placed in from the allotments of Providence is more 
than probable may be curtailed. But sometimes I'm 
led to look forward with some degree of hope at a 
future period to spend a few pleasurable days with my 
nearest connections notwithstanding. Should I not ar- 
rive at so much happiness, believe me, I have every 
reason to be thankful and am doubly rewarded at tin- 
singular instance of prosperity my dear sons have met 
with, though sore on my mind the separation hang. 
Still I endeavor to be patient and try to be happy. 
* * * I hope, my dear sir, after offering up your 



232 DOROTHY QUINCY 

prayers so solemnly from the delays of matrimony, that 
your expected union with my sister has taken place 
and all obstacles removed that occasioned the delay. 
1 shall receive much pleasure when I hear the matter is 
settled and you into a good humor again. ' A virtuous 
woman is a crown to her husband.' I hope you'll be 
fortunate enough to meet all this in my sister, and 
Npend the remainder of life in uninterrupted happiness. 
* * I have seen peas but twice : they were old 
as the Boston North Bells." 

She asks Captain Scott to send her some winter 
cabbage and a few Carolina potatoes, concluding 
with : 

" You would hear me bless you and see me make a 
bow quite from here to Boston." 

There were many other commissions given, for 
which he was to send the bill ; a veil, as the quality 
was inferior at Montreal. He was obliging, as 
well as an adept in executing commissions for 
Mrs. Sewell and Madam Hancock, as he had al- 
ways been for Governor Hancock when in Eng- 
land. 

Evidently Captain Scott had encountered many 
delays from the widow Hancock, and he bewails 
this to the compassionate sister. Without doubt 
the fair Dorothy experienced numberless misgiv- 
ings as to the wisdom of the step she was contem- 
plating, and wavered and wavered with a woman's 
privilege until the captain resorted to prayer. 

" Madam Scott " now withdrew into a more lim- 
ited circle, and was consequently less before the 
public. Her home continued open to callers, main- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 233 

taining the sociality which had rendered it famous. 
She retained a genuine fondness for seeing her 
friends and hearing their animated voices, while 
regaled with savory viands. 

Later in life one of the young visitors compli- 
mented Madam Scott on her personal appearance. 
She laughingly replied : " What you have said is 
more than half a hundred years old. My ears re- 
member it, but what were dimples once are wrin- 
kles now." 

Esther writes, February 13, 1800, with a touch 
of the old sprightliness, and wishes she could have 
been at the wedding of one of Captain Scott's 
daughters. She advises Miss Scott and Kate to 
get husbands ; that " they are necessary evils." 

She writes to Captain Scott from Montreal, 
1800. relating the visitors at her house, and says: 

" We take a pleasure in entertaining our American 
friends, and would seriously wish you to come on. 
Bring your ' rib ' and the new married pair. I rejoice 
with you and your new son and daughter on their pros- 
pect of happiness. Kindest love to your dear wife and 
sister Katy. * * * I wish you a series of happiness 
and long life, and shall esteem it ever a pleasure to re- 
ceive a testimony of your friendship from under your 
own hands. And with tenderest love to my sister, 
dear sir, 

" Your affectionate friend and sister, 

" Esther Sewell." 

That long life to Captain Scott wished so sin- 
cerely was not given. He died in 1809 and left 
many bequests. 



234 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Among those to his wife was a cellar of wine 
containing " 300 gallons which was of London 
particular Madeira." 

This conveys an idea of the stress laid in the 
olden times on a well-appointed wine cellar. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

The Mortgage — Thi£ Mall — Lafayette Returns to 
America — Salutation to Madam Scott — Her 
Death — The Will — Mementos of the Han- 
cocks — Propositions to Retain the House. 

Madam Scott had received no business train- 
ing, or she would earlier have made some definite 
arrangement looking to the future, when a mort- 
gage on the property was to become due. The 
time of its expiration drew near, and, as widow 
of Governor Hancock, she became a petitioner to 
the Probate Court, stating " that the greatest por- 
tion of the real estate, which was set off to her as 
dower by agreement with the heirs, had been 
lately taken from her possession by reason of a 
mortgage, which, it was expected, would have been 
paid from the personal estate of said deceased. 
She humbly prays for the consideration of the 
Judge of Probate, and that some allowance may 
be made to her according to the acts aforesaid." 
The mortgage was foreclosed, compelling Madam 
Scott to pay the amount, thus curtailing her in- 
come. " Nor would the court give a new assign- 
ment of dower." 1 



2 3 6 DOROTHY QUINCY 

Madam Scott, whose early love of nature had 
never waned under all the changes of her brilliant 
life, delighted in the fine old trees of the mall, 
and she was greatly grieved when the terrific 
gale of 1815 swept over Boston, carrying destruc- 
tion in its path. It was an item for a letter sent 
over the sea by Mr. Theo. Lyman to his college 
friend, Edward Everett, then in Germany — " How 
many lamentations has poor Madam Scott made 
over that beautiful row of elms opposite to her res- 
idence." 

What would she say to the present transforma- 
tion of this ancient ground, where sauntered the 
belles and beaux of the past over the greensward ! 
" Progress " has excavated a tunnel, and through 
it rushes, rattles and whirrs the trolley car ; while 
above stands a double row of huge granite mon- 
uments — the passenger exits. A short distance 
from the site of the old Liberty Tree, whose um- 
brageous branches sheltered the sons of freedom 
while devising their schemes, a monument has 
been erected to commemorate the brave dead who 
fought in 1 86 1 to retain the Southern States in 
the Union. A park that suggests a " thing of 
beauty," with statues, fountains and flowers, has 
been intruded upon by the humanitarian, as well 
as the utilitarian, for a multitude of tramps and 
poor sleep on its grass during summer nights un- 
molested by the law. 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN HANCOCK, 

As it appeared after the removal of the banquet hall, in 181! 



DOROTHY QUINCY 237 

It has been stated that Lafayette, " in his exer- 
tions for securing the liberties of x\merica and 
France, had reduced an estate yielding two hun- 
dred thousand livres a year income to the trifling 
sum of twenty thousand livres annual revenue.'' 2 
He longed to see the United States again, and 
in 1824 landed at Boston, where they gave him a 
grand ovation. The streets were " profusely dec- 
orated with arches; and during his progress for 
more than three miles all the bells in the city 
rung." Business was suspended — the whole town 
adorned in holiday attire ; the French and Ameri- 
can colors prevailing. " Every roof, balcony, 
window and steeple was in requisition by the ex- 
cited multitude." 3 

General Lafayette, seated in a barouche drawn 
by four white horses, came slowly through the 
crowd massed on each side of the street, careful 
not to crush the welcoming populace extending 
their homage and congratulations. In Tremont 
street, amid the plaudits of the hundreds of voices 
filling the air — amid the waving of handkerchiefs 
of fair dames, a chronicler says, one face arrested 
his attention — it was that of the widow of Gov- 
ernor Hancock. She was seated on the balcony of 
a house then called Colonnade Row. Though it 
was many years before that he had been enter- 
tained at her home, he recognized the lady, and, 
with ready courtesy, ordered the carriage stopped 
in front of the house. Rising, he placed his hand 



2 3 S DOROTHY QUINCY 

over his heart and made a profound obeisance, 
which was gracefully returned. Then followed 
peals of soul-stirring shouts from the interested 
spectators. 

Time, that blighting monster who forgets no 
one, had touched a light finger on Madam Scott, 

There is a far-famed poem to Dorothy Ouincy's 
aunt. " Dorothy O." Jackson, who was the sister 
of Judge Edmund Quincy, written by her de- 
scendant, Dr. Oliver W. Holmes. Unfortunately 
no poem is extant to the " fascinating wife of John 
Hancock. No poetical descendant lives to immor- 
talize here in smooth, flowing verse; but, instead, 
her praises have been sounded in the dull rhythm 
of prose. 

After a long and eventful life Madam Scott died 
in 1830, and was laid in the old Granary Burying 
Ground. Thus passed away one of the most not- 
able society women of the Revolution. She had 
outlived most of those who had known her in her 
exalted stations. She had watched the changes of 
Presidential rulers with closest attention. She 
had rejoiced in the growth and prosperity of her 
country, the great work for which her husband 
had so long and untiringly struggled, and knew 
how intense would have been his gratitude and 
gratification at a result he so much desired. 

Her long life ended mourned by a large circle 
of friends and relatives. " Aunt Scott " to them 
was a beaeon of the Revolution ; an embodied hi>- 



DOROTHY QUINCY 239 

tory of the past. Her memory was retentive, as 
her interest had been great on all subjects of par- 
amount importance. Her fund of reminiscences 
seemed inexhaustible. A friend of Washington : 
with him she had actually conversed. Martha 
Washington and herself had chatted together over 
their respective husbands; and Mrs. Washington 
had descanted on the high position of Hancock, 
while her husband, then, was a General. She had 
known Lafayette and most of the heroes who were 
identified with that stormy period. She had been 
present at the Lexington fight — heard the first 
gun fired for independence. Had not the King 
put a price upon her lover's head? Here was 
romance indeed for the younger listeners. 

She had innumerable old letters for them to 
pore over with delight from Americans and titled 
foreigners, recognizing with thanks her hospi- 
tality. 

She had shared in the honors and ovations that 
Hancock unceasingly received ; yet, in all her nar- 
rations, there was the same quiet repose, with oc- 
casional glowing fervor, that had ever distin- 
guished her — the true type of a lady " to the 
manner born." 

In her will she remembered specially each niece 
and nephew. She gave to Jonathan Sewell. at 
Quebec, her large silver tankard ; and to his 
brother Stephen, of Montreal, she writes, " My 
large silver tankard, with a cover to it, as marks 



340 DOROTHY QUINCY 

of my affection for them and my affectionate re- 
membrance of their father and mother." 

To Mrs. Salisbury she left a large silver cake- 
basket, requesting her to "have if used at .the 
weddings of my nephews and nieces, as it has 
been heretofore." 

The residue of the property was divided equally 
among her nieces and nephews by the court. 

The valuation put upon some of her effects 
reads strangely now. Miniatures of Thomas Han- 
cock and lady, by Copley, valued at five dollars; 
a painting of Washington, four dollars ; twenty- 
two old engravings, ten dollars. There were por- 
traits of Sir H. Frankland, Peyton Randolph, a 
Rubens, a Van Dyck, and a" Washington and 
Franklin, in wax, etc. 

One of her coaches, with yellow body and coat- 
of-arms on the door, was given to her niece, Mrs. 
Clapp, widow of Hon. A. 0. Clapp, who for 
some years used it occasionally. One day she 
directed her coachman to take it to be renovated. 
When it was again ordered for a drive her amaze- 
ment was unbounded at the startling transforma- 
tion. There stood the coach, but hardly to be rec- 
ognized under an entire coat of fresh brown paint. 
This coach is now owned by Miss M. J. E. Clapp, 
of Portland, Me., one of Mrs. Clapp's grand- 
daughters. 

Pieces of Madam Scott's handsome brocade 
dresses have been treasured and framed by her 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 24 1 

nieces and great-nieces. Mrs. Montgomery Blair, 
of Washington, D. C, owned a high-back, antique 
carved chair covered with one of the rich brocade 
breadths. The chair was burnt, with Mr. Blair's 
country-seat, by the Confederates during the Civil 
War, as Mr. Blair was a member of President 
Lincoln's cabinet. 

There are many valuable mementos of the Han- 
cocks stowed in safety vaults or adorning houses 
of private individuals. Boston has some relics on 
exhibition in the Memorial Hall of the old State 
House. John Hancock's large Bible, and large 
Book of Common Prayer, a velvet coat and vest, a 
pair of shoe buckles, a copper tea kettle, made by 
Paul Revere ; a cup of old India china with flower 
decorations. There are a pair of white satin slip- 
pers belonging to Madam Hancock, from which 
minuets and contra-dances have brushed away the 
freshness ; also a pair of pale blue kid, the tops em- 
broidered in silver, 'with small crimson flowers. 

Hanging in an adjoining room is a large quaint 
sampler which rivets the attention. This style of 
embroidery, so much the fashion in those early 
days, is a reminder of wasted time and eyesight. 
This example is over a yard wide, and nearly the 
same in height, the work of Miss Hannah Otis, 
sister of the patriot. It represents the Hancock- 
house, the Common and Charles river — labeled, 
" Tt was considered a chef d'oeuvre at the time, 
and made much noise." 



24* DOROTHY QUINCY. 

John Hancock, dressed in a red coat and mount- 
ed on a white charger, is depicted swiftly canter- 
ing over the mall followed by his negro on foot. 
Cows, roosters, dogs and rabbits are also in wild 
motion; stately deer adorn the landscape; large- 
birds are winging through the air or perched on 
trees, and scarlet flowers border the foreground. 

Standing by the river wall is Dorothy Quincy. 
with a companion. Miss Quincy is dressed in fawn 
color, with long black gloves, holding an open fan 
and gazing after her lover. It is a most elaborate 
piece of work, attesting the industry of the fair 
dame who embroidered it, and must be a cherished 
reminder of the past. 

There is an elaborate sampler, owned for long 
years in the Quincy family, which now hangs in 
the parlor of Mrs. Sarah H. Swan, of Cambridge, 
Mass. It is a most rare and beautiful specimen of 
work, equally fine on both sides. Three dames 
face you, in huge hooped skirts, a wealth of hair 
falling to their shoulders; below there are two 
other figures, a lion standing between them, the 
spaces filled in with flowers and other designs ; 
while the rest of the canvas, which is quite large, 
has rows of varied specimens of embroidery — a 
study for the lover of needlework. 

In 1859 Governor Banks proposed that the com- 
monwealth should purchase the Hancock mansion, 
and " a strong effort was made to save this old 
New England monument." It was reported upon 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 243 

favorably by a joint committee of the Legislature, 
but encountered active opposition from the rural 
districts and was defeated. Suggestions were 
also made to retain it for the residence of the Gov- 
ernor or a museum of Revolutionary treasures. 
The house was in excellent preservation, and the 
interior woodwork perfectly sound. 

State action having failed, another effort was 
made, in 1863, to secure the relics in the build- 
ing. The heirs offered for sale " the mansion, 
with pictures and other objects of historical inter- 
est, with the design of preserving it as a memento 
of colonial and Revolutionary history." This 
proffer was rejected ; the solid granite walls were 
torn down to be replaced by a modern brown- 
stone house, and years after* the spot was marked 
by a bronze tablet, clamped to an iron fence, with 
an inscription marking the site as that of John 
Hancock's residence. 

While the work of demolition was in progress a 
gentleman passing through the mansion, who was 
a friend of Mrs. L. Woodbury, noticed a pane of 
glass on which she had cut her name when a little 
girl making a visit to her great-aunt. Believing il 
would be a revered souvenir he asked to have it 
taken from the window frame, intending to pre- 
sent it to the family. This was obligingly done, 
and the glass placed on a chair while he made the 
circuit of the house. On his return the glass lay 
shivered to atoms through a workman's careless- 
ness. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

The Lexington House — Efforts to Save It — Han- 
cock's Grave — The Monument — Where Doro- 
thy Quincy Rests. 

The old Hancock house at Lexington, which 
had been built about 1700, by Rev. John Han- 
cock, grandfather of the patriot, was preserved 
with the greatest care during the life of the Rev. 
Mr. Clark, and every object within it held in 
reverence. The rooms, which Samuel Adams and 
J ohn Hancock occupied ; the table, chairs and the 
hard-pine floor; even the dilapidated paper was 
retained until the house passed into the possession 
of a lady, who, finding no tenant, ordered it pulled 
down. 

One account states that the whole village pro- 
tested. " They argued with her, pleaded with her, 
and offered her money.'' She was obdurate, 
though in comfortable circumstances, until the 
" energy and tact " of a reverend clergyman pre- 
vailed, and she accepted a proffer for the house 
on condition that it was moved off of her ground. 

In December, 1840, it was suggested by George 
Mountford, Esq., of Boston, that a monument be 
raised to John Hancock in the Merchants' Ex- 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 245 

change on Wall street, New York. The project 
failed, patriotic interest centering in memorials 
of more recent heroes. 

Governor Hancock's grave in the old Granary 
Burying Ground was marked by a small slab of 
granite such as was used at that period. There is 
nothing distinctive about it, the inscription being 
simply : 



" No. 16. 

TOMB OF HANCOCK. 1 



Years and years passed and the spot, where re- 
posed one of the most generous, ardent, and un- 
tiring workers for independence, seemed almost 
forgotten until a colored man proposed in the 
Legislature that a monument to John Hancock 
be erected. His appeal passed the House and the 
sum of three thousand dollars was voted for a me- 
morial to one who probably did as much in his 
day for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as 
any of her sons. 

On the 10th of September, 1896, there was un- 
veiled in the Granary Burying Ground the mon- 
ument to John Hancock — a granite shaft, eighteen 
feet high by three and a half feet in width, with a 
bas-relief on one side, around which " is an oak 
leaf wreath, symbolic of the strength and stead- 



* 4 6 DOROTHY QUINCY. 

fastness of the patriot's character." Under it are 
the words, in Roman characters, " This memorial 
erected A. D. 1896, by the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts to mark the grave of John Han- 
cock." " The motto, Obsta Principles, which 
means, resist in the beginning, is on the scroll of 
the coat-of-arms. The whole is surrounded by a 
Greek anthemion or honeysuckle ornamentation." 

$ >;: ^t ^ ^: * # >l= 

The ancient, dark stone slab leans on the fence 
nearby, its jagged, chipped edges testifying to the 
ruthless hand of the untiring relic-hunter, it may 
be hoped, showing the warm hearts of appreciative 
admirers. 

Here rests Dorothy Quincy; the tall, old trees 
standing as sentinels, filling the air with sighs as 
they sway their huge branches in mournful dirges 
over those that sleep beneath. 



REFERENCES. 



Chapter i. 1. The Quincy Family, by Salisbury. 

2. Letters of Abigail Adams, p. 327. 
Chapter ii. 1. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 2, p. 8. 

2. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales, Dorchester, Mass. 

3. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

4. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams 

(edition 1850), p. 56. 

5. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams, 

p. 62. 

6. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams, 

vol. 2, p. 78. 

7. Massachusettensis, p. 5. 

8. The Sewell Family, by Salisbury. 

9. Massachusetts Records, vol. 97, p. 

319, and vol. 95, pp. 13-14. 
Chapter iv. 1. American Biography of the Sign- 

ers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, vol. 1, by Sanderson 
(edition of 1823.) 

2. Atlantic Monthly. 1853 ; Boston 

Herald. June, 1890; John Han- 
cock's book, p. 703. 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 13, p. 328. 

4. Letter to Rev. Daniel Perkins. 

5. History of Massachusetts, by 

Barry, vol. 2, p. 313. 

6. History of Massachusetts. by 

Barry, vol. 2, p. 316. 

7. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams. 

vol. 10, p. 265. 

8. History of Lexington, by Hudson, 

P. 117. 



248 DOROTHY QUINCY. 

9. History of New England, by Ell- 
iott, p. 272. 
10. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams, 
p. 213. 
Chapter v. i. Signers of Independence, by Jud- 

son. 

2. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 1, p. 475. 

3. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 1, p. 397. 

4. History of Independence Hall, by 

Belisle, p. 134. 

5. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 1, p. 397. 

6. Life of Arthur Lee, vol. 2, p. 202. 

7. History of Massachusetts, by Hutch- 

inson, vol. 3, p. 346. 

8. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 1, p. 475. 
Chaptf.k vi. 1. Lossing's Field Book of the Amer- 
ican Revolution, vol. 1, p. 493. 

2. Life of Arthur Lee, vol. 2, p. 203. 

3. American Biography of the Sign 

ers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. 

4. Works, Diary, etc., of John Adams. 

vol. 10, p. 109. 

5. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 28, p. 182. 

6. Barry's History of Massachusetts. 

vol. 2, p. 17. 

7. Life of Paul Revere, by E. H. Goss. 

vol. 1, p. 128. 

8. New England Historical Genealn- 

ical Register, vol. 22. p. 57. 

9. Lossing's Field Book of the Amer- 

ican Revolution, vol. 1, p. 513. 
Chapter vii. 1. Siege of Boston, p. 40. 

2. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 2, p. 140. 

3. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 2. p. 138. 

4. History of Massachusetts, by Brad- 

ford, from July, 1775. 

5. Works, Diary, etc.. of John Adams, 

vol. 2, p. 332. 

6. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

pp. 78-79. 

7. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

pp. 78-79- 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 249 

8. Massachusetts Historical Society, 

vol. 8, p. 327. 

9. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 1, p. 343. 

10. The Massachusetts Spy, March 10. 

1774- 

11. Christopher Marshall's Diary, p. 6. 

12. Patriots' Day, Concord and Lex- 

ington, by G. J. Varney. 

13. History of New England, by Ell- 

iott; Barry's History of Massa- 
chusetts, vol. 2, p. 482. 

14. Barry's History of Massachusetts. 

vol. 2, p. 484. 

15. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

p. 78. 

16. Judson's Signers of the Declaration 

of Independence. 

17. Life of James Otis, by Tudor, p. 

261. 

18. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 20, p. 188. 

19. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 10, p. 163. 

20. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc.. 

vol. 2, p. 216. 
Chapter viii. 1. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc.. 
vol. 10, p. 259. 

2. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 21, p. 60. 

3. Pennsylvania Evening Post, Janu- 

ary, 1775- 

4. Pennsylvania Gazette, May 3, 1775. 

5. Dunlap's Packet and General Ad- 

vertiser, February 27, 1775. 

6. Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly 

Advertiser. 
Chapter ix. 1. History of Lexington, by Hudson, 

archives, vol. 2. p. 211. 

2. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

3. John Adams' Works. Diary, etc., 

vol. 10, p. 263. 
Chapter w i. Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. 1. p. 67. 

2. History of Lexington, by Hudson, 
pp. I7I-I73- 



2 5 o DOROTHY QUINCY. 

3. New Hampshire Gazette, May 5, 

1/75. 

4. Life of Paul Revere, p. 90. 

5. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register. 
Chapter xi. 1. History of Lexington, by Hudson, 

p. 164. 

2. Pennsylvania Gazette, 1775. 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 31, p. 380. 

4. Samuel Adams' Life, vol. 2, p. 251. 

5. Mrs. Lamb's History of New 

York, vol. 2, p. 28. 

6. Barry's History of Massachusetts. 

vol. 3, p. 14. 

7. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 
Chapter xii. 1. Proctor's Massachusetts Historical 

Society, Series 2-6, p. 396. 

2. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 19, p. 136. 

3. Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly 

Advertiser, 1775. 

4. Samuel Adams' Life, vol. 2, p. 299. 

5. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

. P- 93- 

6. Life of James Otis, by Tudor, pp. 

37, 268. 
Chapter xiii. 1. New England Magazine, 1892, ar- 
ticle by H. C. Walsh. 

2. Independent Chronicle and Uni- 

versal Advertiser, July 8, 1775. 

3. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, 

vol. 2, p. 334. 

4. Hildreth's History of the United 

States, vol. 3, p. 46. 

5. Writings of George Washington. 

by Sparks. 

6. Frothingham's Siege of Boston, 

P. 40. 

7. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

8. Life of Elbridge Gerrv, vol. 1 p. 

189. 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 251 

9. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 2, p. 517. 
io. Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. I, p. 83. 
Chapter xiv. 1. New England Historical Genealog- 
ical Register, vol. II, p. 166, let- 
ter belonging to J. G. White. 

2. Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet and 

General Advertiser. 

3. Letter in Belknap's Papers, vol. 4. 

p. 121, Massachusetts Historical 
Collection. 

4. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia, 

p. 214. 

5. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia. 

p. 285. 
6 Independent Chronicle, October 17, 

1793- 

7. Tudor's Life of James Otis, p. 267. 

8. Article, by Martha Quincy, in 

"Our Country," by Mrs. Phelps, 
p. 265. 

9. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 8, p. 187. 
Chapter xv. i. Diary of Christopher Marshall. 

P- 53- 

2. Independence Hall, by Belisle, p. 

138. 

3. American Anecdotes, p. in, "Dis- 

interested Patriotism of Han- 
cock." 

4. Sparks' Life of Washington. 

5. Martha Quincy's Article. 

6. Franklin, by Sparks, vol. 4, p. 340. 
Chapter xvi. 1. Connecticut Gazette and Universal 

Intelligencer, February 16, 1776. 

2. Sparks' Washington, vol. 3, p. 530. 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 13, p. 231. 

4. New Hampshire Gazette and Week- 

ly Mercury, April 1, 1776. 

5. New England Chronicle. May 9, 

1776. 

6. Cambridge of 1776, p. 67. 
Chapter xvii. 1. New England Gazette and Weekly- 
Mercury, May 20. 



252 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



2. Salisbury's Families, p. 340. 

3. Letters owned by Mrs. S. H. Swan. 

4. Homes of American Statesmen, ar- 

ticle by J. H. R. Hildreth. 

5. Sparks' Life of Washington, vol. 3. 

6. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 2, p. 416. 

7. Barry's History of Massachusetts, 

vol. 3, pp. 92-3- 
Chapter xviii. 1. New England Historical Genealog- 
ical Register. 

2. Signers of the Declaration of In- 

dependence, by Dwight, p. 25. 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 
ical Register, vol. 29, p. 451. 

Lamb's History of New York, vol. 
2, p. 91. 

Lossing's Field Book of the Amer- 
ican Revolution, vol. 2, p. 288. 

Connecticut Gazette and Universal 
Intelligencer, 1776. 

New York Gazette and Weekly 
Mercury, June 24, 1776. 

Salisbury's Families, p. 341. 

Salisbury, p. 342. 

Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

P. 99- 
Chapter xix. 1. New York Gazette and Weekly 
Mercury, February 2, 1778. 

2. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 1, p. 192. 

3. S. J. Fisher's " Men, Women, etc., 

of Colonial Times." 

4. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

P- 95- 

5. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

6. H. C. Walsh's Article in New Eng- 

land Magazine, June, 1892. 

7. Letter owned by Mrs. Sarah H. 

Swan. 
Chapter xx. i. Salisbury's Family Memorials, pp. 

344-5- 
2. Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. 1, 
p. 271. 



4. 



6. 



8. 

9- 

10. 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



253 



3. Life of James Reed, vol. 2, p. 24. 

4. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 12, p. 106. 

5. Sparks' Life and Letters of Wash- 

ington (edition 1834), vol. 5. 
p. 106. 

6. Sparks' Life and Letters of Wash- 

ington (edition 1834), vol. 5, 

P- 133- 

7. Gordon's History of Insurrection 

or Revolution, vol. 3, pp. 18, 21. 

8. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 
Chapter xxi. 1. John Hancock's Letter-Book, A. 
E. Brown's article.* 

2. Cambridge of 1776, Diary of D. 

Dudley. 

3. Memorial History of Boston, vol. 

2, p. 452. 

4. Massachusetts Magazine, July, 1789, 

p. 396. 

5. This is from a photograph of Cop- 

ley's portrait, owned by Mrs. 
Cushing, of Portsmouth, N. H. 

6. John Hancock's Letter - Book. 

Abram E. Brown's article in 
Boston Evening Transcript, Jan- 
uary 22, 1898. 

7. Life and Letters of John Adams. 
Chapter xxii. 1. Memorial History of Boston, vol. 

4, P- 4- 

2. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 35, p. 41. t 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 12, p. 316. 

4. New England Magazine, article by 

H. C Walsh, June, 1892. 

5. Letters owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

6. Letter owned by Mrs. S. H. Swan. 

7. New York Gazette and Weekly 

Mercury, 1778. 



*In Boston Evening Transcript, January 22, 1898. 
-(■Communication of H. W. Bryant, Esq. 



254 DOROTHY QUINCY. 

8. Sparks' Life of Washington, vol. 6. 

P- 44- 
g. Lafayette's Memoirs and Letters. 
vol. I, p. 82. 

10. Gordon's History of Insurrection 

and Revolution. 

11. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register. 

12. Lafayette's Memoirs and Letters. 

pp. 193, 200. 

13. Providence Gazette and Country 

Journal, 1778. 
Chapter xxiii. 1. Martha Quincy's article in " Our 
Country." 

2. Connecticut Gazette and Univer- 

sal Intelligencer. 

3. New York Gazette and Weekly 

Mercury, September 19, 1778. 

4. New York Gazette and Weekly 

Mercury, April 13, 1778. 

5. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

p. 106. 

6. Independent Chronicle. 

7. Connecticut Gazette and Univer- 

sal Intelligencer, November 4, 

8. Lafayette's Memoirs and Letters. 

by his Family, vol. 1, p. 202. 
Chapter xxiv. 1. New York Gazette and Weekly 
Mercury, April 13, 1778. 

2. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 3, p. 57. 

3. Life of Jas. Otis, by Tudor, p. 264. 

4. Connecticut Gazette and Univer- 

sal Intelligencer, August 11. 
1779- 

5. Life and Letters of Franklin, vol. 

6, pp. 51, 187 (edition 1888), and 
vol. 8, pp. 278-9. 

6. Lives of Signers of the Declaration 

of Independence, by Sanderson, 
p. 18. 

7. Life of James Sullivan, p. 245. 

8. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 26, p. 20. 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



*55 



Chapter xxv. 



Chapter xxvi. 



Chapter xwii. 



9. Sermon by Dr. Thatcher on John 
Hancock's death. 

0. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 4, p. 304. 

1. Connecticut Gazette and Universal 

Intelligencer, March 1, 1779. 

2. Two letters owned by Mrs. b. H. 

Swan. 

3. Salisbury's Quincy Family, p. 322. 

4. Mrs. S. H. Swan's letter. 

5. Providence Gazette, May 13, 1780. 

6. Memoirs, Correspondence and 

Manuscripts of Lafayette, p. 94. 

7. Memoirs, Correspondence and 

Manuscripts of Lafayette, p. 98. 

8. Memoirs, Correspondence and 

Manuscripts of Lafayette, p. 133. 

1. Gordon's History of the American 

Revolution. 

2. Life of James Sullivan, p. 280. 

3. Allen's Biographical Dictionary, 

p. 328. 

4. Bradford's History of Massachu- 

setts, p. 331. 

5. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

6. Shurtleff's Description of Boston, 

1782. 

7. Marquis de Chastelleux's Travels 

in North America, 1780-81-82. 
vol. 2, p. 260. 

8. Abbe Robin, vol. 3, p. 169, Memo- 
rial History of Boston. 

Magazine of American History, 
vol. 4, pp. 209, 213, 205. 

Letter owned by Mrs. S. H. Swan. 

Barry's History of Massachusetts, 
vol. 3, p. 198. 

" Our Country," by Mrs. Phelps. 

Massachusetts Historical Collec- 
tion, vol. 6, p. 85. 

Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

Drake's Landmarks of Boston. 

Miss Quincy. 



•)• 



256 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



7. Providence Gazette and Country 

Journal, November, 1781. 

8. Life of James Otis, by Tudor, p. 

264. 

9. Life of John Trumbull, p. 57. 

10. Burrage's Lecture. 

11. Miss Martha Quincy. 

12. Belisle's Independence Hall, p. 141. 

13. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

14. Burrage's Lecture. 

15. Life of Samuel Adams, vol. 3, p. 375. 
Chapter xxviii. 1. Miss Martha Quincy. 

2. John Adams' Works. Diary, etc., 

vol. 10, p. 260. 

3. John Hancock's Letter-Book, ar- 

ticle of A. E. Brown. 
Chapter xxix. 1. New England Historical Genealog- 
ical Register, vol. 15, p. 61. 

2. Memorial History of Boston, vol. 

4, P. 173. 

3. Old Landmarks of Boston. 

4. Life of James Sullivan, vol. 1, p. 250. 

5. Miss Martha Quincy. 
Chapter xxx. i. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 

2. Barry's History of Massachusetts 

vol. 3, pp. 237, 258. 

3. Bradford's History of Massachu- 

setts (edition 1829), vol. 3, p. 37. 

4. Massachusetts Historical Society, 

vol. 4, p. 417. 

5. Loring's One Hundred Orator.-,. 

P- 74- 

6. Massachusetts Sentinel, February 

6, 1788. 

7. Bancroft's History of the United 

States, vol. 6, p. 395. 

8. Life of James Sullivan. 

9. Judson's Signers of the Declaration 

of Independence, p. 29. 

10. New Hampshire Gazette, February 

20, 1788. 

11. Life of James Sullivan, p. 242. 

12. Massachusetts Sentinel, 1788. 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



257 



Chapter xxxi. 



l'n WTEk xxxii. 



Chapter xxxiii. 1 



1. Independent Chronicle and Uni- 

versal Advertiser, August 21, 
1788. 

2. New Hampshire Gazette, 1788. 

3. Independent Chronicle and Univer- 

sal Advertiser, 1788. 

4. Connecticut Courant, September 25. 

5. Massachusetts Historical Society, 

vol. 4, p. 419- 

6. Hildreth's History of the United 

States, vol. 4, p. 152. 

7. Letter owned by Miss Woodbury. 

1. Independent Chronicle and Uni- 

versal Advertiser, June 4, 1789. 

2. History of New England, by Ell- 

iott, p. 272. 

3. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 9, p. 14. 

4. Massachusetts Sentinel, October. 

1787. 

5. History of Independence Hall, by 

Belisle, p. 141. 

6. Massachusetts Sentinel, 1789. 

7. New Hampshire Gazette, October 

29, 1789. 

8. Independent Chronicle, 1789. 

9. Independent Chronicle, January 29. 

1790. 

10. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 8, p. 190. 

11. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

p. 115. 

12. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 8, p. 190. 

New England Magazine, 1893-4, P- 
690, article by Irving Allen, ex- 
tract from Washington's diary. 

Connecticut Courant. October 24, 
1789. 

Massachusetts Historical Society, 
vol. 8, p. 173. 

Boston Gazette and Country Jour- 
nal, November 29, 1790. 



13 



14 



>5 



2 5 8 DOROTHY QUINCY. 

2. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

New England Historical Gen- 
ealogical Register, vol. 6, p. 

365. 

3. Belknap's Massachusetts Historical 

Society, vol. 4. 

4. Bradford's History of Massachu- 

setts, 1 790- 1820, p. 27. 

5. Independent Chronicle. 

6. Providence Gazette and Country 

Journal, December 15, 1792. 

7. Providence Gazette and Country 

Journal. 

8. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

p. 109. 

9. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

p. 109. 

10. Independent Chronicle and Uni- 

versal Advertiser. 

11. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 10, pp. 259-260. 

12. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 8, p. 120. 

13. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

p. 119. 
Chapter xxxiv. 1. Independent Chronicle, 1793. 

2. New England Historical Genealog- 

ical Register, vol. 35, p. 137. 

3. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 10, p. 279. 

4. John Adams' Works, Diary, etc., 

vol. 1, p. 431. 

5. Mrs. Warren's American Revolu- 

tion, p. 431. 

6. Life of Samuel Adams. 

7. Loring's One Hundred Orators, 

p. 120. 

8. New Hampshire Gazette. October 

22, 1793. 

9. American Biography of Signers of 

the Declaration of Independ- 
ence (edition 1823), vol. 1. 

10. Life of Jas. Sullivan, vol. 1, p. 267. 

11. American Biography of Signers of 

the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, vol. 1. 



DOROTHY QUINCY. 



259 



12. " Our Country," article by Miss 

Martha Quincy. 

13. King's Handbook of Boston, p. 17. 
Chapter xxxv. i. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

2. Letter owned by Miss Woodbury. 

3. Loring's One Hundred Orators. 

4. Letter owned by Mrs. William 

Wales. 
Chapter xxxvi. 1. City Documents, p. 126. 

2. Independent Chronicle, March 8, 

1792. 

3. Municipal History of Boston, by 

Quincy, p. 151. 

4. The year 1882. 

Chapter xxxvii. 1. New England Historical Genealog- 
ical Register, vol. 31, p. 381. 



